This watercolour, with gum arabic, pen and ink, gives a port broadside view of the iron screw troopship Megaera under full sail. She is flying the Red Ensign from her mizzen mast gaff. Several figures can be seen on her deck. On the left of the picture, a sailing vessel is visible in the distance, against a steep headland background.

The artist, Thomas C.D. Thompson, served as a midshipman on this vessel.