On her first voyage she was under the command of Nathaniel Dance, who was the commodore of the EIC's homeward-bound China Fleet at the battle of Pulo Aura.

In the South China Sea he led the whole convoy into an attack that bluffed a squadron of five French warships into withdrawing.

[2] The British Royal Navy was unable to provide an escort and the captains of the EIC's China Fleet debated about setting out for home.

[2] On 14 February 1804 at Pulo Aura, the China Fleet intimidated, drove off, and chased a powerful French naval squadron of five warships.

Dance had Earl Camden and Royal George fly the pennants of Rear-Admirals, deceiving the French into thinking that they were facing a superior force of British warships escorting the convoy.

Dance's aggressive tactics persuaded Contre-Admiral Charles-Alexandre Durand Linois to retire after only a brief exchange of fire.

[2] On 28 February the British ships of the line HMS Sceptre and Albion joined the Fleet in the Strait and conducted them safely to st Helena in the South Atlantic.

National and mercantile institutions made a series of awards of ceremonial swords, silver plate, and monetary gifts to individual officers.

At Bombay the EIC fitted out Earl Camden and Wexford to cruise in the Indian Ocean for the "protection of trade".

Homeward bound, she crossed the Second Bar on 11 February 1808, reached Penang on 5 April and St Helena on 10 July, and arrived at the Downs on 11 September.