This coloured aquatint depicts the East India Company ship, Warren Hastings, under attack by the French Piemontaise on 21st June 1806 in the Indian Ocean. The Warren Hastings is shown on the left of the picture, in port broadside view, with her main sail raised for action. Many figures are on the deck and she flies an ensign at her stern. Piemontaise flies the French flag at her stern, but a lowered British ensign hangs over her port quarter indicating she had raised a false flag in order to close with the British ship. Under full sail, on a starboard tack, Piemontaise is firing her starboard guns on the stern of the East Indiaman. After prolonged action, the Warren Hastings was captured, during which her commander, Captain Thomas Larkins, was injured. The ship was taken to Mauritius and used there as a prison hulk. The Captain and surviving crew were put ashore on Isle de France but eventual made their way back to London.