She first appeared in Lloyd's Register (LR) in 1799 with Bibbins, master, Brine & Co., owners, and trade London-Lisbon.

[1] In December 1799 near Oporto a privateer captured Commerce, which was carrying a cargo of salt fish from Newfoundland to Oporto.

On 27 December HMS Netley recaptured Commerce.

[2][3] On 8 January 1800 Netley had to leave Commerce behind near the shore.

[4] The entry for Commerce in the Register of Shipping for 1800 carried the annotation "Captured".