This vignette was published in the first issue of the 'Naval Chronicle' in 1799 (effectively plate IV, though they were only numbered from plate V on) between pp. 144 and 145, which comprise a long accompanying description of Brest, the main French Atlantic naval base. The image is described on p. 144 as showing the outer harbour (the Goulet) taken 'from a sketch by Mr Francis Mason on board the Impetueux [a British frigate] in 1797', with a small frigate (presumably British) standing in and out under topsails and a 'chasse-maree', which is on the right. This is a French fishing lugger, but during the French Wars they were also – as apparently the case here – heavily manned and used as effective coastal privateers against poorly protected British shipping which strayed within their range. The technique includes roulette work and a Pocock drawing in the collection (PAD8825) is possibly a variant preliminary sketch.