The next day they encountered a convoy of transports escorted by the British 64-gun warship Somerset which attempted to disable the weaker Hancock.

Manley was saved by a clever and well-timed action by the captain of Boston, which forced Somerset to give up the chase in order to assist the damaged transports.

Hancock gave chase and soon overhauled Fox, which lost her mainmast and suffered other severe damage in the ensuing duel.

[2] Hancock, renamed Iris, served the British Navy so effectively that her new owners boasted of her as "the finest and fastest frigate in the world."

On 9 September 1781, four French ships intercepted them; Richmond fell back and surrendered first, then the Aigrette,[6] under Captain Traversay, captured Iris.

On the eve of the Battle of the Saintes, Admiral de Grasse detached Iris to escort a convoy of unarmed troop transports.

In the late stages of the war, Iris continued her reconnaissance and cruising duties and undertook her final assignment when she carried an offer of a ceasefire on behalf of the rebel cause to British-occupied New York.