A coloured lithograph of the Royal Navy ship Queen in port stern quarter view. She sails under her topsails, outer jib and spanker only, in a following wind, with her main courses and top gallants looped. The White Ensign flies at her stern, the St George Cross at her mainmast and the Union Jack at her foremast. The scene is busy with other sailing craft, many of them naval. In the left foreground, the crew of a small local boat, which is tied to a buoy, are either raising or lower the sails, while a tiny rowing dinghy approaches their stern. In the background, a hilly shore line of fields, hedges and a grand mansion are depicted – perhaps Plymouth and the residence of the Commander in Chief, Sir John West, mentioned in the dedication.

Sir John West became Commander in Chief at Plymouth in April 1845 and Sir Henry Leeke, also mentioned in the dedication, was appointed Captain of the Queen in October of the same year, when this ship was the flagship was at Devonport.