This pen and wash drawing shows the ‘Liverpool’ struggling in a savage storm on treacherous waters. Depicted port broadside, most of her sails are missing except for the fore and main sails, of which the latter features a very large tear. The main topmast is also missing, presumably broken off. The stays throughout the vessel are blowing chaotically in the wind, and an ensign at the stern is no longer present. Her figurehead features a lion and the figure of Triton appears at the stern. In the distance on the right, a large vessel is visible.
The NMM have John Bentley’s journal from 14/9/1744 to 3/2/1745. R.B. Summerfield (‘HMS Liverpool 1741-1952’, reprinted from the ‘Transactions of the Liverpool Nautical Research Society 1963’, p. 5) quotes the log of the Liverpool’s first master James Treadway, who records John Bentley’s appointment as commander of the ‘Liverpool’ in September 1743. He gives Bentley’s transfer to the ‘Barfleur’ as February 1744 (1745 by the new calendar). Bentley was succeeded by Captain George Durell.