1. For his motives were those of patriotism; and his conduct that of an honourable man.258 The Rainbow, at the request of the Admiralty, proceeded to sea on 3rd August "to guard trade routes north of the equator," and on the 5th was assigned the specific duty of finding and protecting two British sloops, Shearwater and Algerine, both lacking wireless and steering north for San Diego, California.

Ses motifs étaient ceux du patriotisme et sa conduite, celle d’un homme d’honneur."258 Le Rainbow, à la demande de l’Amirauté, prit la mer le 3 "pour garder les routes commerciales au nord de l’Équateur" et, le 5, reçut la mission particulière de repérer et protéger deux sloops britanniques, le Shearwater et l’Algerine, tous deux dépourvus de sans-fil et se dirigeant vers le nord à destination de San-Diego (Californie).