This print is an illustration from Thomas Tegg's 'Accounts of Shipwrecks'. The Agatha (or Agathon), commanded by Captain CJ Koop, was bound for Karlskrona. Lord Royston and 18 other passengers were on board. On 7 April, 1808, the Agatha got caught in heavy weather and the captain decided to shelter in Memel Harbour but the ship grounded on the bar at the entrance. She was abandoned but Lord Royston drowned when one of the ship's boats was swamped. Most of those aboard were rescued by the Greathead lifeboat, which appears in the picture.

The portrayal of both 'Agatha' and the Greathead lifeboat are not rigorously accurate, Eames having sacrificed a faithful depiction of detail in order to bring maximum drama to the scene.

Hand-coloured aquatint with etching.