The Morley is depicted in starboard, broadside view, under full sail, on a port tack. The British ensign flies from her stern and a pennant with her name from the mainmast. Several figures can be seen on the deck. At the time of this painting, the Morley was chartered to the East India Company, sailing to New South Wales and China. Several other ships, also under full sail, are shown in the background, as are a coastal headland on the far left and a town on the far right of the horizon. In the foreground there is a small sailing dinghy with three occupants who have just lowered, or are about to raise, a square mainsail.