On board an unidentified armed steamship, possibly in The Downs. The photographer is looking aft from the forecastle showing a large windlass in the foreground. The ship's bell is attached to the foremast and another windlass is abaft the mast. A large boom is rigged ahead of the mast. Two guns with canvas covers are sited on either side of the deck under the bridge wings. An upper bridge is above the wheelhouse and a binnacle, engine telegraph and semaphore signalling mast are mounted on this upper bridge, which has enclosed cabs on either end of it. A canvas covered searchlight is mounted above the upper bridge in front of the funnel. Five of the ship's crew are on deck and two are wearing naval seamen's uniforms. A four-masted passenger/cargo liner is in the right background.