y available means for saving
the ship without effect, he superintended for many hours the
disembarkation of the crew, and during all that tedious process he was
standing in a heavy surf up to the middle in water; nor could he be
persuaded to quit the wreck until not one more of his officers or men
would consent to go before him. Respecting the conduct of the officers
and men, we cannot do better than lay before our readers Captain
Burgess's own estimate of its merits.

'I owe,' he says, 'to the whole of my officers and men (and which most
sincerely and unreservedly I render,) the meed of praise due to the
conduct of every one, without exception. It was their prompt obedience
to all my orders, and the firmness, fortitude, and alacrity which
they perseveringly as well as patiently displayed amidst their great
perils, sufferings, and privations, through the whole of this trying
scene, that contributed, under Providence, to the saving of so many of
their lives.

'Their subsequent orderly and excellent conduct on shore as much
bespeaks my approbation; and, in truth, the general character of their
conduct throughout has induced an esteem in me which it is impossible
can ever cease but with my life.'[18]

Captain Samuel Burgess entered the navy in 1790, and served on board
the Impregnable at the victory of the 1st of June, 1794. He was almost
constantly employed from that time until the year 1804, when he was
appointed a lieutenant on board the Prince, of 98 guns, in which ship
he was present at the battle of Trafalgar.

He next served on board the Dreadnought, 98, and subsequently was
appointed to the command of the Pincher, a 12-gun brig, employed in
the North Sea and Baltic. Whilst in command of this vessel, Lieutenant
Burgess distinguished himself on many occasions, particularly in
assisting Lord George Stuart in reducing the batteries of Cuxhaven and
Bremerleke. His next appointment was to the Vixen gun-brig; and
although he might well have expected promotion for his services, he
remained lieutenant until the year 1816, when he was appointed to the
Queen Charlotte, in which ship he served as flag-lieutenant to Lord
Exmouth at the bombardment of Algiers. Upon the arrival of the
dispatches in England, Lieutenant Burgess was promoted to the rank of
commander. He received his post rank on the 27th November, 1830, when
he took the command of the Thetis. A more lengthened statement of the
services of this officer will be f