The EIC arranged for the issuance of a letter of marque that authorized him to engage in offensive action against the French should the opportunity arise.

[4] On 22 July 1803, as Culland's Grove was in the Atlantic on her way home, she had the misfortune to encounter the French 32-gun privateer Blonde, which was under the command of François Aregnaudeau, at 50°21′N 17°0′W / 50.350°N 17.000°W / 50.350; -17.000.

[2] Aregnaudeau had had a successful cruise already, but Culland's Grove, as an Indiaman returning with a valuable cargo, proved to be a particularly attractive prize.

Aregnaudeau took her and another of his prizes, Flirt, a former Royal Navy brig converted to a whaling ship that was returning to London from the South Seas Fisheries, into Pasajes on 3 August.

Culland's Grove's captain and second officer protested vehemently that they were already weakly manned and that this would leave them even more short-handed, but Paget was acting within the law.