by John Marshall

“ Captain Loring, the officer who had been appointed to succeed him in the Santa Margaritta, observed his distress, and generously forbore to use the commission he had received from the Admiralty, until the pleasure of their lordships could be ascertained – a forbearance worthy of record. The result proved highly gratifying to both parties; Captain Rathborne being continued in the command of the Santa Margaritta, and his worthy brother-officer soon after compensated for the spontaneous sacrifice he had made, by an appointment to a frigate of superior class [8] . ”

“ Captain Rathborne was soon after appointed to the Foudroyant of 80 guns, a circumstance that gave him considerable pain, as independent of his disinclination to remove from a cruising frigate into a blockading ship, he was very unwilling to part from his officers and crew, whose conduct on every occasion had given him the greatest satisfaction, and in whom he had every confidence. ”

“ Rathborne continued in the Hunter as acting Master for nearly four years, during which she was almost constantly employed on the American coast, and formed part of several expeditions against the enemy in the Jerseys. At length, through the kind interference of Captain Alexander Hood, nephew of the officer with whom he had served in the Romney and Royal William, he was once more restored to the line of promotion, and allowed to take a passage home in a merchant vessel, at the commencement of 1780. ”