A dramatic incident showing a British man of war engaging a sailing vessel known as a lugger. It is flying the pirate flag, which is mislaeading since it is really engaged in smuggling, bringing contraband goods into the country to avoid paying duty. This incident is taking place at night, with the moon appearing through the dark clouds on the right and the glow from the lighthouse on the headland on the left. Moonlight was often used by smugglers when landing contraband from the continent.

Despite a considerable strengthening of the preventive forces all around the British coast following the Napoleonic wars the benefits of avoiding custom duties made the risk worth taking.