H.M.S. Experiment capturing the French privateer Télèmarque, off Alicante, 19th June 1757

In the numerous conflicts of the eighteenth century France made far greater use of privateers than was the case in England. Such was the strength of the Royal Navy that British privateers fulfilled only a supplementary role whereas the equivalent French vessels were generally larger and better armed thanks to the increasingly rich temptations offered by British merchantmen. The Seven Years' War (1756-63) saw a significant increase in French privateer activity although the Royal Navy was more than equal to the task, one of its many successes being the capture of the 26-gun Télèmarque captured after a spirited action by the smaller 24-gun frigate H.M.S. Experiment off Alicante on 19^th June 1757.