This coloured lithograph depicts the Royal Navy ship Queen being towed out of Malta harbour (the harbour wall being on the far right of the picture) by the paddle steamer Virago on 16th January 1844. Both vessels are shown in port stern quarter view, the Queen pitching to starboard while Virago pitches to port in a heavy sea. Queen flies the Red Ensign at her stern. Many of her sails are hoisted but the lower courses are looped. The crew can be seen on the deck, tops and yards. In the foreground there is a red and blue painted, local, rowing vessel operated by two standing oarsmen, each with an oar on opposite sides.