Espérance was a Rhône-class scow of the French Navy, launched in 1781 and later reclassified as a frigate.

Espérance was built as Durance and served in de Grasse's squadron as a troopship.

On 18 December 1782, she departed Toulon with the frigates Précieuse and Prosélyte, and the corvette Poulette, in a convoy bound for the Caribbean, that also included the fluyts Gracieuse and Rhône.

[1] A decade later, on 29 September 1791, Espérance under Captain Huon de Kermadec, and Recherche sailed from Brest to New Caledonia.

On 28 October 1793, Espérance was captured by the Dutch at Surabaya, only to be returned to France in February 1794.