He reports that she was then commissioned into the Royal Navy a year later under Commander John Parker Robinson.

On 31 August 1798, Phaeton and Anson captured the French privateer Mercure, pierced for 20 guns but carrying 18, and with a crew of 132 men.

[4] Mercure was a 200-ton ("of load"), 16-gun privateer from Saint-Malo commissioned around November 1797 with a crew of 97 men under Delastelle.

She was from Saint Malo and was returning to her home port after having had a successful cruise in the Channel.

[9] Two other vessels, the hired armed cutter Lady Jane and the ship sloop Railleur were lost in the same storm.