A starboard broadside view of the ‘Mediator’ in her final role as a fireship, flying the British Ensign. She is backlit by flares and sparks. The French fleet can be seen in the right background, identified by a single flag atop one of the masts. The British fleet is presumably that shown on the left. A ship’s boat is also present with crew at centre left. Coloured aquatint by Robert Dodd.
As the East Indiaman ‘Ann & Emilia’, the ‘Mediator’ is recorded in Hardy’s “East India Register” as sailing from Portsmouth in 1782 ‘To remain in India’. A commemorative medal of 1809 shows 'Mediator' as a fireship (MEC1279).