Carnatic was sailing from India to France when on 28 October 1778 she encountered the Liverpool privateer Mentor.

War between Britain and France had broken out in April 1778 and Captain John Dawson sailed Mentor south to attempt to intercept French vessels coming from the Indian Ocean that were not aware of the outbreak of hostilities.

[2][3][a] Peter Baker, Mentor's owner, retained ownership of Carnatic,[b] and later built a mansion in Liverpool given her name.

[1] Lloyd's List reported in February 1780 that Carnatic and several other vessels had come into Cork in distress.

[5] A gale in the night between 1 and 2 August 1781 at Jamaica drove Carnatic, Gibbons, master, on shore.