[1] On 28 October 1803, Merlin and Milbrook were off Dunkirk when they pursued and drove on shore the French privateer lugger Sept Freres.

[a] In December Merlin was attached to the Channel fleet and was in company with Shannon on patrol off the Cape La Hogue searching for French coastal shipping and privateers attempting to slip out of the Normandy port of Cherbourg.

[5] Merlin stood back into shore on the 16th and at 11.30am dispatched two boats of marines and sailors to destroy Shannon to prevent the French from salvaging her guns and stores.

Despite heavy fire from the island's batteries the boarders were able to burn and destroy the frigate without suffering a single casualty.

[7] In July and August Merlin participated in the squadron under Captain Robert Dudley Oliver in Melpomene at the bombardment of French vessels at Le Havre.

[1] Merlin was in company with Champion , Cracker, and the hired armed cutters Frances and Nelson on 16 April at the capture of the Charlotte Christina.

[13] Merlin shared with Eurydice and Prevoyante in the proceeds from the capture on 11 June of the Prussian ship Edward.

[14] In an enclosure to a letter dated 7 October 1805, Admiral Lord Nelson wrote, "Jalouse, Childers, and Merlin being unfit for the service of this Country, are ordered home with the first Convoy to be repaired".

[1] The "Commissioners for executing the office of Lord High Admiral" offered the Merlin sloop, of 395 tons (bm), lying at Portsmouth, for sale on 21 January 1836.