Ferret was assigned to the Downs station under Rear-Admiral M'Bride. There she captured several privateers. Ferret captured the privateers Jean Bart and Jeune-Marie off Dunkirk on 21 February 1793. Jean Bart was armed with six 3-pounder and four swivel guns, and had a crew of 39 men. Ferret brought both privateers into Ramsgate. Ferret and shared in the proceeds of the capture on 10 March of Verandering and Twee Gisberts. Three days later, on 13 March, Ferret captured the neutral ship Fortuna. A week later, on 20 March, Ferret captured the merchant vessel Hercules. Then on 5 April Ferret captured the privateer Fantasie, from Dunkirk, and brought her into The Downs. Fantasie was armed with eight guns and had a crew of 43 men. Ferret, and the hired armed cutters Nancy and Dorset shared in the proceeds of the capture of the neutral ships General Van Huth (or General van Hurst) and Liffe en Vriendschap. On 8 June 1794 Ferret captured Neptunus. Also in June Ferret captured the neutral vessel Constantia. In November 1794 George Byng was promoted to Commander in Ferret, replacing Nowell. The merchants of London presented Commander Nowell with a silver plate as a token of appreciation for his efforts in suppressing privateers. Between January and April 1795 Commander H. Tookey briefly commanded Ferret. Commander Charles Ekins was promoted to Commander on 16 June 1795 into Ferret, succeeding Byng, when Byng received promotion to post captain. Ferret was then stationed off Flushing. On 19 November 1795 Ferret captured a French privateer lugger of 30 men, and four 4-pounder and some swivel guns. The privateer had left Calais that day and Ferret had captured her that evening off Blackness Point, Devon. The privateer was later identified as Eleonore. The very next month Commander Thomas Baker replaced Ekins. Disposal: The Navy paid off Ferret in February 1796. She was not sold, however, until 16 December 1801, and then for £760. Whaler Ferret became a whaler for the firm of Daniel Bennett. In 1802 she was valued at £6000. She would make six whaling voyages for the Bennetts, father and son. Ferret, under the command of Captain William Blanchford (or Blackford), left Britain on her first whaling voyage on 19 March 1802 for the Brazil Banks. In September she was at Walwich Bay with several other whalers, including Indispensable. In February 1803 she was off the coast of Brazil together