Bellona was once again paid off, recommissioned briefly in 1789 in expectation of war with Russia, but did not get into action again until 1793, when she went to the West Indies.

On 10 January 1797, Bellona and Babet drove a small French privateer schooner ashore on Deseada.

They tried to use the privateer Legere, of six guns and 48 men, which Bellona had captured three days earlier, to retrieve the schooner that was on shore.

[6] Bellona took part in the action of 18 June 1799, securing the surrender of the frigates Junon and Alceste, and helping HMS Centaur in capturing Courageuse.

Bellona appears in the Patrick O'Brian novels The Commodore and The Yellow Admiral as the pennant ship of a squadron led by the character Jack Aubrey.