Thomas Buttersworth, Jr., attributed, c. 1820. It’s blowing hard enough for the little lug-rigged boat on the right to be deeply reefed with her mizzen furled. She may be a small pilot boat of the type common in the Thames estuary. The main subject, a ship-rigged vessel, has single-reefed her topsails. Her crew is furling the mainsail, while others sheet home the jib. The main vessel has gunports painted on her side, but these may be fake. She does have some guns aft on the quarterdeck and a pair forward on each side. Two vessels are at anchor while a third is running out with full topsails.
Shipping in Rough Seas
