A genre scene of passengers on board the Halsewell, engaging in various activities from the stern. On the quarterdeck is an ensemble consisting of two men and seven women; the man on the far left of the group is playing a violin(?) and sitting on the breastrail. The other man, perhaps the conductor with sheet music, is leaning with his left arm on a chair occupied by one of the women; she appears to be playing a gittern. Below this group, from a window on the upper deck, a man waits patiently for a catch with his fishing line. Various male figures can be discerned behind the other windows here. At the top-right corner of the image, on the poop deck, are men pulling on one of the stays.
Two other ships are featured on the left of the image, the first depicted in starboard-bow view (left) and the other port-broadside (right). Behind them are areas of land, some just barely discernible. Further ships are dotted across the horizon in the centre of the image.
Signed ‘R D 1786’ at bottom-left corner of image.

Inscribed: ‘SOCIETY AT SEA./ THE RECREATION of the COMPANY on board the HALSEWELL in serene Weather, three Days before their DISOLUTION on the Night between the 5th & 6th of January 1786./ Published April 3, 1786 by W. Dickinson No. 158, New Bond Street’