In the French newspaper Phare de la Manche was the item published that at Cherbourg orders were received to arm the frigate la Reine Blanche (1) and to send all details of her fitting up to Paris, probably to transport an important person. Rumours claimed that the prince de Joinville was to come on board and the ship was destined for St. Helena to transport the remains of Napoleon back to France.
Sources
J. Vichot. Répertoire des navires de guerre francais. Paris, 1967.
www.shipscribe.com/marvap/classes/html
Note
1. Laid down as a 52-guns 2nd class frigate of the Alceste-class at Cherbourg 27 June 1830, launched 15 September 1837, commissioned 1 November 1840, stricken 23 June 1859, renamed le Vigoureus in or before 1865, mooring hulk/ponton at Rochefort 1866, broken up 1885. Sister ship the l’Alceste. Dimensions 170’7” (waterline)-172’1” (deck) x 44’0” (middle)-45’3” (exterior) x 19’4” and a draught of 20’8” (mean)-21’4” (maximum) and a displacement of 2.360 tons. Her crew numbered 441 men.
