[267] This term had its origin in the early part of the present century, when so many of H.M.’s 10-gun brigs, employed in carrying the mails, or on other short services, were lost, especially on their Atlantic voyages, that they got the name of “coffins.”
[268] See [Appendix, No. 13, p. 634], where a list will be found of the different Acts of Parliament which have been passed relating to merchant shipping since 1849.
[269] See ‘History of Lloyd’s Register of British and Foreign Shipping,’ [Appendix, No. 12], p. 624.
[270] See ante, vol. iii. pp. 48 and 50.
[271] See Parl. Paper C. 630, 1872.
| Wrecks, &c., other than Collisions in the United Kingdom. | |||
| Year. | Total Loss. | Partial Damage. | Total. |
| 1856 | 368 | 469 | 837 |
| 1857 | 384 | 482 | 866 |
| 1858 | 354 | 515 | 869 |
| 1859 | 527 | 540 | 1,067 |
| 1860 | 476 | 605 | 1,081 |
| 1861 | 513 | 658 | 1,171 |
| 1862 | 455 | 695 | 1,150 |
| 1863 | 503 | 830 | 1,333 |
| 1864 | 386 | 653 | 1,039 |
| 1865 | 470 | 832 | 1,302 |
| 1866 | 562 | 876 | 1,438 |
| 1867 | 656 | 1,020 | 1,676 |
| 1868 | 527 | 841 | 1,368 |
| 1869 | 606 | 1,047 | 1,653 |
| 1870 | 411 | 730 | 1,141 |
| 1871 | 398 | 826 | 1,224 |
| 1872 | 439 | 1,110 | 1,549 |
| 1873 Jan. to June | 212 | 522 | 734 |
| Total | 8,247 | 13,251 | 21,498 |
Annual average of 17 years, 472-11/17 total wrecks, and 748-13/17 casualties resulting in partial damage.
Note.—In the above statistical statement no earlier date than 1856 is taken, as the machinery had not in 1855 being sufficiently organised to ensure that nearly all the wrecks, &c., in that year were reported; and there is reason to believe that some may not have been reported in the years 1856, 7, and 8.