This wash drawing depicts the capture of merchant ship Pelican by the Franklin of Genoa. Both ships are shown broadside on, but the Pelican from the starboard side on the right of the picture and the lateen-rigged Franklin from the port side on the left of the picture. Both ships are firing at each other. The three-masted Pelican has her lower courses raised for action but her other sails are much holed. Her ensign hangs limp at the stern gaff as there is very little wind. The Franklin’s huge sails on long curved yards are typical of local Mediterranean craft, as are the oars which appear to be in action. Figures can be seen on the decks of both ships. The coastline is faintly depicted in the distance.

Catalogue image PAD0523, probably by the same unknown artist, depicts the Pelican leaving Gravesend, bound for Malta, on 1st August 1809.

Pelican is not recorded in Lloyd's Register, but a vessel of that name is entered in Lloyd's List as leaving Gravesend on 1st August 1809; however the master is stated as Murphy rather than Marley. No record of the capture of Pelican by the Franklin has so far been found.