This hand-coloured engraving shows the naval vessel Phoenix, in the centre of the picture, in starboard stern quarter view, under full sail in a following wind. She flies the ensign at her stern. The crew are crowded on the deck and gun smoke billows from her bow gun. Her main guns are ready for action. The inscription indicates she is chasing a French privateer off Lisbon and, indeed, there is a ship ahead of her on the same tack, as well as another one about to cross its stern. On the left of the picture, a two-masted vessel is speeding away on a port tack, towards the land, and a small local lateen-rigged boat appears to be struggling with her sail, as are the crew of a similar vessel in the right foreground.

The engraving was published after the Phoenix was lost in a huricane off Cuba on 4th October 1780.

Note: The inscription seems to be inaccurate as to the rating of the Phoenix and the number of guns.