She was a large vessel of 1,463 tons (bm), launched in 1796 to replace a previous Hindostan that the Royal Navy had bought and turned into a Fourth Rate ship of the line.

As was typical for East Indiamen during wartime, Hindostan made her voyages under a letter of marque, which authorized her to capture enemy vessels should the opportunity arise.

Before leaving, she had the misfortune to run over Thomas and Alice in Blackwell Reach on 21 January 1797, sinking the smaller ship.

[1] Mackintosh had made five earlier voyages for the East India Company, including three as captain of Indiamen.

[1] Hondostan's fourth voyage was for the Cape of Good Hope, Ceylon, the Coromandel Coast, and China.

She carried mostly woolens and 45,000 ounces of silver bullion in 13 cases for private ventures, not the East India Company.

[3] On the morning of the 12th, the Margate hoy Lord Nelson and the pilot sloop Liberty saved the rest.

[9] The Court of Directors of the EIC presented the 16 crew members of Lord Nelson with 500 guineas for their "gallant and daring rescue of 105 men" from the wreck.