She was launched on 3 March 1791, and served in the Mediterranean under Captain Pierre René Bouvet. During the Siege of Toulon, Royalist rioters surrendered Aréthuse to the British. She escaped to Portoferraio when the city fell, and was brought into Royal Navy service as HMS Arethuse. In July 1795, she was renamed HMS Undaunted. On 9 February 1796, she sailed for the Leeward Islands under the command of H. Roberts. She then joined Captain Thomas Parr, in the fourth rate HMS Malabar, as part of the squadron that occupied the Dutch colonies of Demerara, Essequibo and Berbice in April and May.