In mid-1796, Tribune was under the command of Commodore John Moulson (or Moulston), an American who had served in the French Navy for 16 years.

[3] On 8 June Tribune and her remaining two companions, the frigate Tamise and the corvette Legere, were sailing off the south coast of Ireland.

In 1847 the Admiralty awarded the remaining survivors of this action the Naval General Service Medal with clasp "Unicorn 8 June 1796".

[4] Tribune was placed under the command of Captain Scory Barker, who sailed her from Torbay on 22 September 1797 as escort to a convoy to the Quebec and Newfoundland fleets.

Climbing onto a carronade, he attempted to ascertain the situation, whilst the master ran up to the wheel with the intent to wear ship.

The crew manned the pumps but after a period of time in which they seemed to be gaining on the leaks, a violent gale from the south east blew up and carried Tribune steadily towards the western shore.

Lieutenants Campbell and North managed to escape in a jolly boat, but by half past ten, Tribune lurched over and sank off Herring Cove, Nova Scotia.

The captain and officers were believed lost, but over 240 men, women and children remained, floating in the water or clinging to the rigging.

[2] Eventually nearly a hundred of the survivors had managed to climb into the rigging, but as the night wore on and the storm took its toll, many dropped off and were swept away.

A cairn and bronze plaque in Herring Cove mark the site and the nearby mass grave of her victims.

Salvors recovered Tribune's bell in the 19th century and presented it to St. Paul's Catholic church in Herring Cove.