Commander Robert Barlow recommissioned Childers in January 1791.
At this time she was employed in the suppression of smuggling.

In 1793 Childers was involved in what became known as the Childers Incident at the start of the French Revolutionary Wars.
Childers was the first British warship to be involved in hostilities with the Revolutionary French regime.
On 2 January 1793, she was sailing the roadstead of Brest when the forts there fired on her, though only one shot struck her.
The 48-pound shot hit a gun and split into three parts, but did not cause any casualties.
France did not declare war on Britain until 1 February.

Childers captured the French privateer Patriote off the Graveline on 15 February.
One month later, on 14 March she destroyed the French privateer Triton.

In June 1793 Commander Joshua Mullock took command of Childers.
Commander Robert Warburton replaced Mullock in March 1794.

In March 1795 the newly promoted Commander Richard Dacres assumed command of Childers.
Diamond, Syren, Sybille, Childers, and the gun-brigs Fearless and Attack shared in the proceeds of the capture on 6 July of the Latitia.
In August Dacres and Childers sailed "with the squadron which was sent to convoy the transports to Quiberon Bay".

On 8 September 1795 Childers rejoined Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith in Diamond off the Rock Douvre, about eight leagues S by SW from Saint Martin's Point, Guernsey.
On his way, Dacres captured the French Coast guard cutter Vigilant (or Vigilante), of six guns, in the Bay of Saint Brieux.
This was on 3 September.
The day before, Diamond had destroyed the French corvette Assemblee Nationale, and as part of Smith's squadron, Childers shared in the head money for the corvette.

Dacres was promoted to post captain and command of Camilla on 31 October.
In December Command Stephen Poyntz assumed command of Childers.

On 10 April 1796 Diamond, Magicienne, Childers, Camilla, and Syren captured Smuka Piga.
Nineteen days later, Aquilon, Diamond, Minerva, Syren, Magicienne, and Camilla, were together when Acquilon captured Mary.
Childers shared in the prize money by agreement with Acquilon.

On 16 September Childers captured the French privateer Bon Esperence, off Cape Barfleur.
Bon Esperence, of two swivel guns and 23 men, was three days out of Cherbourg and had captured the sloop Mary Ann, of Queenborough, sailing from Plymouth to London and Woolwich with naval stores and ordnance.
Shortly thereafter, Childers was able to recapture the Mary Ann.
Poyntz sent both Bon Esperence and Mary Ann into Portsmouth under escort by the cutter Trial.
Towards the end of the month, on the 28th, Childers captured the ship Anna Louisa.

Melampus and Minerva drove a French navy corvette ashore near Barfleur on 13 November.
However the British were not able to get close enough to assure her destruction.
Then the next morning, Melampus and Childers chased the corvette Etna as she departed Le Havre.
Melampus came within range around 15:30.
Etna resisted for two hours before striking her colours as Childers joined the battle.
Etna was armed with eighteen 12-pounder guns and had a crew of 137 men under the command of Citizen Joseph La Coudrais.
The prisoners stated that both corvettes were carrying military and naval stores and that the corvette that had run ashore was the Etonnant.
Both were new ships on their first cruise.
The Royal Navy took Etna into service as the 20-gun post ship HMS Cormorant.
In February 1797 the government made an advance prize money payment of £8000 to the officers and crews of Melampus and Childers.

Commander James O'Brien (or O'Bryen) was appointed captain of Childers on 5 December, and took command in January 1797.
On 11 May Childers, in company with Phoebe, Cleopatra, Indefatigable and the hired armed lugger Duke of York, captured the Nouvelle Eugénie.
She was a razee privateer of 16 guns and carried a crew of 120 men.
She was four days out of Nantes on a 30-day cruise, but had taken no prizes.

Leviathan, Pompee, Anson, Melpomene, and Childers shared in the proceeds of the capture on 10 September 1797 o
Commander Robert Barlow recommissioned Childers in January 1791. At this time she was employed in the suppression of smuggling.
In 1793 Childers was involved in what became known as the Childers Incident at the start of the French Revolutionary Wars. Childers was the first British warship to be involved in hostilities with the Revolutionary French regime. On 2 January 1793, she was sailing the roadstead of Brest when the forts there fired on her, though only one shot struck her. The 48-pound shot hit a gun and split into three parts, but did not cause any casualties. France did not declare war on Britain until 1 February.
Childers captured the French privateer Patriote off the Graveline on 15 February. One month later, on 14 March she destroyed the French privateer Triton.
In June 1793 Commander Joshua Mullock took command of Childers. Commander Robert Warburton replaced Mullock in March 1794.
In March 1795 the newly promoted Commander Richard Dacres assumed command of Childers. Diamond, Syren, Sybille, Childers, and the gun-brigs Fearless and Attack shared in the proceeds of the capture on 6 July of the Latitia. In August Dacres and Childers sailed "with the squadron which was sent to convoy the transports to Quiberon Bay".
On 8 September 1795 Childers rejoined Admiral Sir William Sidney Smith in Diamond off the Rock Douvre, about eight leagues S by SW from Saint Martin's Point, Guernsey. On his way, Dacres captured the French Coast guard cutter Vigilant (or Vigilante), of six guns, in the Bay of Saint Brieux. This was on 3 September. The day before, Diamond had destroyed the French corvette Assemblee Nationale, and as part of Smith's squadron, Childers shared in the head money for the corvette.
Dacres was promoted to post captain and command of Camilla on 31 October. In December Command Stephen Poyntz assumed command of Childers.
On 10 April 1796 Diamond, Magicienne, Childers, Camilla, and Syren captured Smuka Piga. Nineteen days later, Aquilon, Diamond, Minerva, Syren, Magicienne, and Camilla, were together when Acquilon captured Mary. Childers shared in the prize money by agreement with Acquilon.
On 16 September Childers captured the French privateer Bon Esperence, off Cape Barfleur. Bon Esperence, of two swivel guns and 23 men, was three days out of Cherbourg and had captured the sloop Mary Ann, of Queenborough, sailing from Plymouth to London and Woolwich with naval stores and ordnance. Shortly thereafter, Childers was able to recapture the Mary Ann. Poyntz sent both Bon Esperence and Mary Ann into Portsmouth under escort by the cutter Trial. Towards the end of the month, on the 28th, Childers captured the ship Anna Louisa.
Melampus and Minerva drove a French navy corvette ashore near Barfleur on 13 November. However the British were not able to get close enough to assure her destruction. Then the next morning, Melampus and Childers chased the corvette Etna as she departed Le Havre. Melampus came within range around 15:30. Etna resisted for two hours before striking her colours as Childers joined the battle. Etna was armed with eighteen 12-pounder guns and had a crew of 137 men under the command of Citizen Joseph La Coudrais. The prisoners stated that both corvettes were carrying military and naval stores and that the corvette that had run ashore was the Etonnant. Both were new ships on their first cruise. The Royal Navy took Etna into service as the 20-gun post ship HMS Cormorant. In February 1797 the government made an advance prize money payment of £8000 to the officers and crews of Melampus and Childers.
Commander James O'Brien (or O'Bryen) was appointed captain of Childers on 5 December, and took command in January 1797. On 11 May Childers, in company with Phoebe, Cleopatra, Indefatigable and the hired armed lugger Duke of York, captured the Nouvelle Eugénie. She was a razee privateer of 16 guns and carried a crew of 120 men. She was four days out of Nantes on a 30-day cruise, but had taken no prizes.
Leviathan, Pompee, Anson, Melpomene, and Childers shared in the proceeds of the capture on 10 September 1797 o
HMS Childers (1778)