From this period we find no mention of Captain Rathborne till 1797, when he was appointed to the Good Design, an armed ship, employed in convoying the trade from Leith to Elsineur and the Elbe. At the close of 1799, he removed into the Racoon, a brig of 18 guns, stationed off Boulogne, and afterwards successively employed in the Channel, Mediterranean, and West Indies. His post commission bears date Oct. 18, 1802.
The Santa Margaritta, into which frigate he had been promoted at Jamaica, having returned home in 1803, and refitted at Sheerness, was subsequently sent to cruise off the French coast, and on various other services connected with the duties of the Channel fleet. Whilst thus employed, she fell in with the squadron under Sir Richard J. Strachan, whose success in capturing four French line-of-battle ships, commanded by M. Dumanoir, on the 4th Nov. 1805, may be, in a great measure, attributed to the persevering exertions and gallant conduct of Captain Rathborne; who, availing himself of his frigate’s superior sailing, closed with and harassed the enemy for three hours and a half, before any other ship could get within gun-shot; and then, in conjunction with Captain Baker of the Phoenix, who had previously been chased by them, kept their rear in play until the Commodore and his companions could arrive sufficiently near to bring on a general action[1]. The Santa Margaritta on this occasion, although repeatedly hulled by the enemy’s shot, had only her boatswain killed, and one man wounded.
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. 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
- ↑ See Vol. I, p. 289. N.B. Line 12, for frigates read frigate.
