Built as a wooden frigate at Le Havre, France, designed by Jean-Joseph Ginoux.
January 1757 keel laid down.
Tonnage 540 ton, dim. 41.3 x 10.3 x 5.2m.
Armament 26 – 12pdrs. and 6 – 6 pdrs. guns.
December 1757 commissioned under the name ARETHUSE, her intended name was La PÉLERINE but before commissioned changed.
Under command of Capt. Vauquelin first based at Le Havre.
April 1758 she sailed from Le Havre and arrived June in Louisbourg, Nova Scotia, Canada where she took part in the defence of Louisborg.
Capt Vauquelin moored his ship beside the Barachois, or sea-pound so that he could outflank the British approach against the right land face of Louisbourgh. She came under heavy attack of the British forces and got damage.
She was later withdrawn from her position, as she was the only French vessel available there to make a dash to the open sea with dispatches for France.
Her damage and shot holes were repaired and in the night of 14 July 1758 she was towed to the harbour mouth, then she unfurled her sails and escaped the British fleet and arrived safely in France a few days after the fortress surrendered.
(The Fortress Louisbourg surrendered on 27 July 1758 to the British forces.)
18 May 1759 on a return voyage from Canada under command of Capt. Vaudreuil was she attacked by HMS VENUS, THAMES and CHATHAM about 8 miles of the south eastern Baie d’Audierne, France.
After a heavy battle of around 2½ hour after she was severe damaged and only two guns could fire she struck her colours and was taken as a prize.
After repair taken up by the Royal Navy as a 5th rate under the name HMS ARETHUSA.
Tonnage given as 700 ton (bm).
12 October 1759 she came through the Needles to Portsmouth with a speed of 14 mile during a violent gale, in which her mainmast and fore and topmast were carried away off Plymouth.
04 September 1759 under command of Capt. Hon. Raby Vane, and employed on the home station.
She captured a few French privateers under which the REVENGE (8-guns) and a crew of 44 men off Lowestoft in July 1760 and another off Calais armed with 6 guns on 14 February 1761.
1762 She together with HMS NIGER and COVENTRY got orders to intercept three French flutes laden with provision for the West Indies.
19 March 1779 she was lost on Ile de Molene off Ushant, when she the day before was pursued and damaged by the French Le AIGRETTE but escaped during the night. (most probably the ship in the background of the stamp is the Le AIGRETTE.)
The French took her crew, with the exception of some drowned men, captive.
One of the crew taken prisoner was First Lieutenant Philippe d’Auvergine.
Jersey 1987 29p sg419, scott?
Source: http://www.netmarine.net/dico/index.htm Ships of the Royal Navy by J.J. Colledge. http://www.cronab.demon.co.uk/18a.HTM and some other websites.