Edgar served with the Mediterranean Fleet, until moved to the China Station. On 13 November 1895 the ship's pinnace capsized in a storm off the coast of Chemulpo, Korea. Forty eight men were lost, with a further 23 rescued.[1][2]
She was recommissioned at Devonport on 20 February 1900,[3] to take relief crews for the sloopsAlgerine and Phoenix and the survey vessel Waterwitch, which were recommissioned at Hong Kong for the China Station.[4] A crew for the river service steamer HMS Robin, built at Hong Kong, was also included.[5] She left Devonport on 3 March,[6] and called at Gibraltar, Malta, Aden, Colombo and Singapore, before she arrived at the station headquarters at Hong Kong later that spring.
In April 1902 her boilers were re-tubed due to defects, and after taking part in the Coronation review in August 1902, she was commissioned to relieve Endymion serving on the China Station.[7][8]