This coloured aquatint depicts a naval engagement in September 1797 off Jamaica in which the British Navy 18-gun brig Pelican, in starboard broadside view in the centre left of the picture, attempted to capture the French privateer Trompeur, on the left of the picture. Pelican’s lower sails are looped for action and both vessels have many holes in their sails. A small cutter with several crew are rowing across the bows of the Pelican to board Trompeur. Another cutter is being lowered from the deck of Pelican. However, there appears to be a large explosion between the ships, in the stern section of Trompeur, and the inscription below the picture states that Trompeur blew up during the engagement.
"The Royal Navy Day By Day" by A.B. Sainsbury gives the date as 17 September 1797, the name as Trompeuse and the location of the action as 30 miles N.N.E. of Cape St. Nicholas Mole, Haiti.