A few days later Swift sailed for a cruise round the islands; but in a gale was blown over to the coast of Patagonia, and in attempting to go into Port Desire struck on a rock, and was lost.

[1] The crew escaped to the shore, but being entirely destitute Farmer despatched the cutter to Port Egmont with orders to the only remaining ship, HMS Favourite, to come to their relief.

On 4 June a Spanish frigate anchored in the harbour; she was presently followed by four others, and the commandant wrote to Farmer that, having with him fourteen hundred troops and a train of artillery, he was in a position to compel the English to quit, if they hesitated any longer.

After arriving in September, Farmer, on being acquitted of all blame for the loss of Swift, was appointed to the 16-gun sloop HMS Tamar, and a few months later, January 1771, was promoted to post rank.

In August 1773 he was appointed to the 24-gun HMS Seahorse, and sailed for the East Indies, having among his petty officers Thomas Troubridge, a master's mate, and Horatio Nelson, a midshipman.

A sharp action ensued; after about three hours and a half both ships were dismasted; but Quebec's sails that had fallen over the guns caught fire, and the frigate was speedily in a blaze.