"Goree", with Spear still in command, made one more important capture in 1808, taking the 8-gun privateer "General Villaret" on 24 November. "General Villaret" was carrying a cargo of sugar, coffee and cotton at the time of her capture. Spear then assisted in the Invasion of Martinique in early 1809, and was given the honour of carrying Cochrane's despatches back to London, with Cochrane's instructions to the Lords of the Admiralty to apply to Spear for more information, describing him as "an old and deserving commander". He arrived on 12 April 1809 and was promptly promoted to post-captain the following day.