This hand-coloured aquatint depicts a battle scene involving British and French squadrons off Madagascar on 20th May 1811. In a very calm sea, the British brig-sloop Racehorse is being rowed by her crew, while despite the gunfire and billowing smoke, others are being manoeuvred by their cutters. All have many holes in their sails. The British vessels are named with Astrea on the far left of the picture, Racehorse in the left of centre foreground, Galatea in the right of centre foreground and Phoebe on the far right.

This picture is part of a set of four, others being PAI6166, PAI6168 & PAI6169.