A view of the troubled launching of the ‘Prince of Wales’ steam vessel at Blackwall. It shows various figures attempting to dislodge the bow of the vessel from the wooden panelling of the wharf, where many spectators are observing the scene. Two figures on a boat below the bow are wielding axes in the attempt. The ‘Prince of Wales’ is being towed from the stern by a steam paddleboat whose paddlebox bears an icon featuring the letters TSTC separated by a cross. Several other vessels are present in the right background of the image, shown either bow-on or stern-on. Published by David Bogue, Fleet Street, August 1843.