Lurcher, 1795
Type: Hired Cutter ; Armament 12
Hired : 1795 ; Disposal date or year : Feb 1801
Disposal Details : captured by a French privateer of 16 guns, on the coast of France ; Lieut. R. Forbes (see below).
Notes:

1 Jan 1799 CO : J Betts ; stationed : Portsmouth (N.C.).

19 Jun 1800 Plymouth, came in from off Brest, the Lurcher cutter, Lt. Forbes, in damage, after a smart action with a French cutter, which she succeeded in cutting out from the Penmarks.

24 Nov 1800 Plymouth, arrived a French brig privateer, 14, prize to the cutters Nile and Lurcher.

2 Dec 1800 Plymouth, letters received from the Suworow, 14 guns, Lt Nicholson, dated the 14th ult. state, that near the Glenan Isles, the Captain, 74, chased a fine French corvette, of 24 guns, on shore. Conceiving it possible to destroy her, the Suworow towed in four boats, with Lieutenant Hannah, and a party of marines and seamen. The Nile, 14, Lt Argles, and Lurcher, 14, Lt Forbes, towed in four other boats, manned and armed, close in shore, though annoyed by a tremendous fire of grape, round, and musquetry, from a battery high above her. They however succeeded in landing, set her on fire, and, after seeing her blow up with a dreadful explosion, the seamen and marines gave three cheers and re-embarked with their gallant leaders, with the loss of only one man killed by a shot striking the flute of the Suworow's anchor through his head, and seven men wounded, three dangerously. The Suworow was much cut up in her sails and rigging ; and having all her anchors shot away, was fastened to the Captain by an hawser.

7 Dec 1800 captured a number of merchant vessels. See also pp. 70-71 of Naval Chronicle 1801 Vol 5 - Jan - Jun in the Wayback Machine. A List of vessels captured by his Majesty's Cutter Lurcher :
Maria Joseph, of two men and eight tons, from Nantes to Yannes, laden with Nantes wine.
L'Eponine, of 3 men and 13 tons, from Nantes to Yannes, laden with ditto; driven on shore on Houat.
Le Bon Secour, of two men and eight tons, from Nantes to Yannes, with ditto ; sunk at anchor.

2 Mar 1801 letters received at Plymouth from the Excellent, dated the 14th ult. off L'Orient, state, that a flag of truce sent into that port brought the pleasing account that the Lurcher cutter, Lieutenant Forbes, supposed to have been wrecked, had arrived there, having been captured by a French privateer of superior force, after a gallant action.