Experiment entered Lloyd's Register in 1792 with J. Scougal, owner, G. Norris, master, and trade Leith–Saint Petersburg.

[3] After the onset of war with France Britain's merchant fleet provided French, and later Dutch and Danish privateers with a target-rich environment.

The Royal Navy acquired Experiment in April 1797 at Leith and commissioned her as GB No.37 in May 1797 under the command of Lieutenant William Malone for the North Sea.

After the Treaty of Amiens ended the war with France, the Admiralty in April 1802 gathered more than 20 of its gun-brigs and other small escort vessels at Sheerness and the Nore, and paid them off.

The "Principal Officers and Commissioners of His Majesty's Navy" offered Manly, of 157 tons, lying at Sheerness, for sale on 12 December 1802.