A port-side view of an unidentified, armed lugger sailing close-hauled with all her sails set. She flies a British ensign on a yard of her mizzen mast. Men stand on deck as she cuts through the water. The British Royal Navy made heavy use of hired armed vessels, often cutters and luggers, during the 18th and 19th centuries. They were used for a wide range of duties including carrying dispatches, escorting passengers, and performing reconnaissance.
