This dramatic engraving depicts the action between the French 40-gun Surveillante and the British 5th rate 32-gun Quebec off Ushant on 6th October 1779. During this engagement, Quebec caught fire and blew up with the loss of 127 lives, including that of the commanding officer, Captain George Farmer, to whose memory this engraving is dedicated.

The Quebec is shown in starboard broadside view, completely dis-masted and on fire, but with the ensign still flying from her stern. Flames and ash leap from the hull. Black smoke billows across the sky. Spars, sails and sailors bob in the rolling sea and, in the right foreground, a small, overloaded cutter attempts to pull men from the sea. The French protagonist, La Surveillante, is shown in port stern quarter view on the left of the picture. Her French flag remains at her stern, but she too has lost all her masts. Various other sailing vessels are depicted in the distance.

This engraving was probably taken from an oil painting of the same scene by the same artist, Robert Dodd (BHC0426).