[a] Renamed HMS Scout, she served briefly in the Channel before being wrecked in 1801, a few days after taking a major prize.

The French commissioned her as a corvette and initially armed her with 26 guns: twenty-two 8-pounders on her upper deck and four 4-pounders on her galliards, i.e. her quarterdeck and forecastle.

Under the command of capitaine de frégate Louis-André Senez, Vénus was in Commodore Savary's squadron at the Battle of Tory Island.

[3] Later, Indefatigable and Fisgard shared the prize money with Boadicea, Diamond, Urania, and the hired armed schooner Earl St Vincent.

She was designed for short-range privateering in the Channel and the Bay of Biscay, rather than the longer-range escort or patrol work of a British sloop.

[1] In March 1801, Scout was in company with the hired armed vessels Sheerness and the Lady Charlotte when they captured a large Dutch East Indiaman off St Alban's Head.

[7][8] On 1 April a court martial was held at Portsmouth on Gladiator for Commander Duncan, his officers, and crew for the loss of Scout.

The court acquitted Duncan, the pilot, the officers, and the crew of all blame, ruling that the sinking was due to a strong tide catching Scout when she was vulnerable.

[9][10] Duncan received command of Premier Consul, which Dryad had captured on 5 March 1801, and which the Admiralty renamed Scout.