The French 36-pounder in age-of-sail combat

How capable was the French 36-pounder, and what were its British contemporaries?

It was a capable heavy gun, best suited to lower decks, with British 32- and 48-pounders among the relevant comparisons.

The French 36-pounder was an effective, respectable weapon, and captured pieces were useful enough for British service. Its weight made it a lower-deck gun on larger ships of the line, trading slower handling for destructive power against smaller opponents. British 18-, 24-, 32-, and 48-pounder families provide relevant comparisons without making the national gun labels exact equivalents. The heavy smoothbore's handling limit came with enough power to impose a severe tactical mismatch on a large frigate.