 His promotion was confirmed when he joined the 24-gun, post ship, on 9 August.By the end of the year however, Bullen was back in England on half pay, during which time he married his cousin, a Miss Wood of Martock.When war broke out, Bullen returned to HMS "Culloden", which was still under the command of Thomas Rich and sailed for the West Indies where they took part in the unsuccessful invasion of Martinique.