Homeward bound, she crossed the Second Bar on 14 February 1798, reached St Helena on 5 August, and arrived back at Gravesend on 22 October.

[1] Coutts was part of a convoy that also included Dorsetshire, Exeter, Bombay Castle, and Neptune, the Botany Bay ships Royal Admiral and Anne, and the whaler Seringapatam.

On the morning of 4 August they encountered French squadron consisting of the frigates Concorde, Médée, and Franchise.

The French commander was concerned that he had encountered a fleet of powerful warships so he turned to escape.

The British commander, Captain Rowley Bulteel, immediately ordered a pursuit.

To preserve the impression of warships he also ordered four of his most powerful East Indiamen to join the chase.

Homeward bound, she crossed the Second Bar on 29 March, reached St Helena on 21 September, and arrived at Gravesend on 8 December.

[1] After the commencement of the Napoleonic Wars, Captain Robert Torin required a new letter of marque, which he received in absentia on 20 June 1803,[3] after he had sailed Coutts from the Downs on 6 May.

Lloyd's Patriotic Fund and other national and mercantile institutions made a series of awards of ceremonial swords, silver plate, and monetary gifts to individual officers.

Coutts reached Madras on 25 August, Penang on 18 September, and Malacca on 22 October.

[1] Captain Boyce sailed from Torbay on 4 January 1812, bound for Mumbai and China.