Heightened with white.; Signed by artist, lower left. The view looks towards Portsmouth from the Gosport side of the harbour. The ship either alongside the dockyard wall by the Semaphiore Tower, or moored just off it (to left of 'Victory'), is the Indian troopship 'Orontes', launched on 22 November 1862 and completed in March 1863. It is shown after 1876, when it was lengthened by 50 feet and re-engined, as indicated by the additional space between the second funnel and the mainmast. It was disposed of on 3 July 1893 and subsequently broken-up on the Thames.

'Victory' is shown flying the flag of the admiral commanding at Portsmouth, with a Royal Marine sentry prominent on the foc'sle. The rather strange title given above, when the drawing was first computer-catalogued, is presumed to appear either below the drawing or perhaps on the back, but this remains to be checked. [BTodd/PvdM 9/20]