During her almost decade of service Dolphin patrolled the English Channel protecting British trade by capturing French privateers and recapturing their prizes.

However, one month later, on 30 April 1793, the Dolphin cutter, Richard Norwood, master, of 92 tons (bm), six 3-pounder guns, four cohorns, and 35 men, received a letter of marque.

[4] On 24 February 1797, Sir John Colleton, Bart, commanding the hired armed cutter Swift, captured and sent into Dover the French privateer schooner Aventurier.

[6] Then in the evening of 2 (or 3) February 1797, the hired armed cutter Lion was off Dungeness Point, when she took possession of a French privateer sloop.

[10] His Majesty's armed cutter Lord Duncan, Lion and Dolphin shared in the proceeds for the recapture of the brigs Triton and Search, on 26 March 1799.

[13] Dolphin was among the many vessels entitled to share in the proceeds of the Dutch fleet surrendered on 30 August 1799 in the Vlieter Incident.

[15] Dolphin arrived at Portsmouth on 16 June with the French privateers Genoa and Etrusot, which she had captured off the coast of France.

[16] Eleven months later, on 20 April 1801, Fortunee, Trent, and Dolphin chased a privateer lugger for 10 hours before capturing it near St Aubin's Bay.