Previously titled 'Merchant ships at sea' this is more likely to show a small warship or possibly a privateer (the former at least indicated by its long pennant) in chase of a merchantman. There is no clear sign of action or guns in the second ship, however, but the merchant vessel appears to have lost its mizzen mast and main topmast. This may have been the result of action – though again there is no wreckage and the fore topsail is backed suggesting the merchant vessel may be helping the other to close up. This suggests another interpretation: that the warship – presumably British – may be closing to assist or otherwise communicate with a vessel that has previously been damaged by weather or other cause. It is probably a study for a picture representing some such incident, possibly for someone connected with either of the ships.