[2][3] On 10 September 1781, Captain Hall, of the transport Vernon was at Cork, from where he wrote a letter with a report of the action of 21 July 1781 in which she had been involved.

The convoy was off the harbor of Spanish River, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia (present-day Sydney, Nova Scotia), or Île Royale, when on 21 July two French frigates Astrée, commanded by La Pérouse, and Hermione, commanded by Latouche Tréville, attacked.

In the action of 16 March 1782, HMS Success fought, captured, and burned the 34-gun Spanish frigate Santa Catalina off Cape Spartel.

[7] On 2 January 1785 as Vernon, Shaw, master, was on her way toEngland she encountered a gale that caused minor damage.

[8] Vernon delayed leaving London to take on some more migrants, but then sailed to join the other two vessels and their escort at Portsmouth.

Atlantic, Bellisarius, and Vernon, Gill, master, sailed from Portsmouth on 23 February under escort by the sloop-of-war HMS Nautilous.

In December Vernon, Barriman, master, was driven ashore east of Ostend and it was feared that she would be lost.