The scene is located on the Bocca Tigris, a narrow strait in the Pearl River Delta near Humen in Guangdong Province, China. Because of its strategic location as the naval gateway to the city of Guangzhou, the strait was fortified. On the left of the compostion is Whangtong Fort, firing heavily on 'Imogene', which can be seen from her port-stern quarter returning fire. In stern view on the right, 'Andromache' is bombarding Old Fort with fire, while the cutter, 'Louisa', pictured in the centre, shelters between the two British ships. Anunghong Fort, or New Fort, is depicted in the far distance, beyond 'Louisa'. As the inscription indicates, the action took place on 7 and 9 September, 1834. Although five ports, including Canton, had been opened to foreigners earlier the same year, local Chinese forces tried to prevent the passage of the Royal Navy ships. After a couple of days of intermittent action the Chinese forts were silenced.

There is a hand-coloured version of this print. See PAG9100. See also PAG9102 and PAG103 by William Skinner, who was on board 'Andromache.