This illustrated letter to his father, the marine painter William Anderson, was written in 1800 while Anderson was serving as a midshipman on the 'Bellona', which is depicted in the centre drawing. Two of the other drawings show the 'Genereux' trying to board the 'Leander' on 18 August 1798 and two of the four coastal views depict Cape Spartel and Gibraltar. These are typical of the drawings naval officers were taught to make.

Anderson seems to have had considerable talent as an artist. He exhibited one painting at the Royal Academy in 1799: 'The 'Wolverine' engaging two French luggers', but his artistic career did not develop as he was mortally wounded at the battle of Copenhagen the year after this letter was written.