Apparently depicting an action between the French corlaire Le Amiral Ganthomme and the English privateers Swift and Lilac. In this context "corlaire" (normally translated as corlair, i.e. pirate) probably means privateer; privateers - privately owned vessels armed with cannon and operating under government licence [Letter of Marque] against enemy trade in wartime - were a common feature of sea warfare during the age of sail and provided valuable support to the navies of the day.