The sextant has an anodized brass straight-bar pattern pillar frame, with twenty-four pillars, and a wooden handle. The tangent screw and clamping screw are positioned on the back of the index arm. The sextant has three shades, two red and one green, and three horizon shades, two red and one green. Index-glass adjustment is made by a screw and on the horizon glass by a screw and a milled knob. Attached to the sextant is a magnifier on a 111mm swivelling arm, as well as a threaded telescope bracket in two parts, fitted for correcting collimation error. It has perpendicular adjustment by a rising-piece and a milled knob. The telescope is 196 mm in length with an inverted image and two parallel cross wires, and the sight-tube is 131 mm in length. The magnifying glass and a shaded eyepiece are missing. The sextant is contained in a polished mahogany keystone box, with a printed notice in the lid by W. Heather pointing out that no parallel adjustment was made on the horizon glass and that correction must be allowed as directed by J. Norie. There are a number of illegible pencil notes inside the box.

An inscription identifies the sextant as the gift to Thomas Hoskins from James Brisbane, his captain on the 'Saturn', in 1802. Hoskins served in the 'Saturn' with Brisbane from November 28, 1801 to July 21, 1802, when the ship was paid off at Portsmouth (National Archives ADM 52/3400, vols 11-13). The certificate written for Hoskins by Brisbane is further proof of the captain's high opinion of the master, since he describes him as a "Sober, steady, respectfull [sic] and most Zealous Officer, a perfect Navigator, an excellent Seaman, and a good Man" (National Archives ADM 52/3400, vol. 11). Hoskins first appears in the masters' section of Steel's Navy List in 1796, as 'Thomas Hoskings'.