The Royal Navy never refered to such ships as corvettes at this time, though the US and French navies did. Cyane was a sixth-rate or 'post-ship' and not a particularily strong one, armed as she was with carronades (+ 2 long nine pounder bowchasers), totalling 33 guns if you include the launch carronade. Captain Stewart of the Constitution reportedly had her repainted as 36 gun frigate before he brought her in. Levant (again carronade armed) was recaptured.

This was a brave action by two RN ships who were trying to protect a convoy (who they were not in company with, but was in the offing). With their short range guns it was somewhat similar to the action of the armed merchant cruiser HMS Jervis Bay with the 'pocket battleship' Admiral Scheer.

Constitution is a great ship with a great history. There shouldn't be this attempt to enhance it, because to those with access to accurate information it only serves to diminish it.