IT is a calamity, and a cause of deep re- gret, when a man engaged in, and pecu- liarly fitted for, the development and con- solidation of a national work is torn from his labours by death, while still much of his undertaking remains to be accomplished.

And when such a misfortune falls upon a benevolent society, of recent origin, depend- ent .simply upon voluntary support, ex- tending throughout an extensive country a system affecting the lives of thousands of our fellow-creatures, and passing through the most critical period of its existence, men of all countries, but especially Englishmen, cannot fail to have their liveliest sympathies excited by the event. This is the position in which our brethren of the French Life- boat Society are placed by the recent lamented death of their Life-boat Inspector, M. le Capitaine ALBERT, of the French Im- perial Navy.

When the French Society was formed, it immediately became its duty to seek out a man in whom ripe experience, minute and lengthened acquaintance with nautical affairs, skill in command and administration, and shrewd common sense should be combined.

It was considered especially fortunate that M. ALBERT, a naval officer, who had seen many years' service, and had served as flag- captain under successive admirals of the French fleet, had been selected to fill such an important post. Twenty-three years ago, ADMIRAL MONTAGNES DE LA ROQUE eulo- gised him as being "active, zealous, me- thodical, and sparing no labour in promoting the good of the service." In fact, the Ad- miral could not refrain from saying : " It is not possible to serve better than M. ALBERT." On all hands we hear testimony to his sin- gular merits, of which we ourselves were much impressed, when he visited London three or four years ago. His judgment was ready and thoroughly reliable, and his spirit of order was proportioned to his coolness in time of danger. In every situation in which prompt and wise action was required, his mind swiftly obeyed the demand made upon it; and fearlessness and perseverance were not wanting to enhance these qualities. He is described as the beau-id al of a perfect officer, and was well-known as one of the best officers in the French navy. We may well consider the Society to have been for- tunate in securing M. ALBERT as one of its principal officials.

The Inspector took office in April, 1865, and for four short years bent his energies to the establishment of a life-boat organization essentially similar to the English one. We shall best record his praises by stating that in that period one hundred and thirty stations (postes de secours), provided either with a life-boat or the life-saving apparatus of M. DELVIGNE, were placed in working order under the Society, by which already four hundred and eighty-two lives have been saved from a watery grave.

From the most important subjects down to the minutest details of organization, he showed himself equally at home. With in- defatigable activity, he passed from life-boat station to station on the widely-extended seaboard of France, everywhere giving evi- dence of his fitness for his post. In the delicate and difficult task of selecting the crews of the life-boats, which devolved upon him, his judgment and firmness, mingled with good humour and persuasiveness, were admirably manifested, and fishermen and mariners were alike satisfied to submit them- selves to his guidance, foregoing local rival- ries, which are so frequently an obstacle to great enterprises.

In the numerous cases in -which he was brought into contact with public bodies, many of them doubtful of the success of the Life- boat Society, his conciliatory manner, with- out the abandonment of important principles, smoothed the path for progress, and gained good wishes for a favourable issue. Every- where his modesty and sterling merit at- tracted respect, and secured success in his mission. Unceasingly did he prosecute his labours till, in April last, he was seized with an illness from which he died, on the 27th of June.

It is not too much to say that M, ALBERT laid down his life in the rapid organization of the French Life-boat service, with which work his name will ever be honourably as- sociated. His labours have assisted the Society to surmount those perplexing diffi- culties which stand thick in the path of most young institutions, and to rise to a position of efficiency and of real beneficence second only to the English NATIONAL LIFE-BOAT INSTITUTION. It will not be easy to find another man so well qualified for the work as he was; we can only hope that in the selection the Society may decide as wisely as it has done hitherto. Well might the sorrowing members of the council say, as they followed M. ALBERT'S remains to the tomb : " Never has a greater or more worthy achievement crowned a more meritorious career." He has nobly carried out the charge committed to him, and has made good his claim to the esteem of all men in whose hearts works of love and mercy find a place.