In his book titled Innovation and Empire in Turkey, Tuncay Zorlu referred to the attempts done by the Ottoman Government to buy Dutch warships. One attempt was to buy through meditation of the Dutch ambassador six new ships armed with 60-70 guns from merchants. Of those ships five never put to sea, a 60 guns ship only once. Yet, it wasn’t possible to purchase these ships until arrival in an Ottoman harbour and after a serious examination of their condition. There even seems to be another 5 available but which required repairs and so weren’t available for a long period. The source for this information was a document Gencer found, but as Zorlu write, it’s unknown what happened. The second attempt was an official request dated spring 1791 presented to the Dutch and British ambassadors to obtain from each country 3 completely fitted out warships.
I tried to find more about this subject in Dutch archives and found some (new) information. Still there has to be done more research. Strangely enough, I couldn’t find anything in the letters the Dutch ambassador at Constaninople, F.G. Van Dedem Van de Gelder, wrote to the Dutch States General. In his letters to counsellor Fagel the possible sell is several times mentioned. The ambassador continuously had to asked what the decision of the States General and wasn’t pleased with the fact that the sell was part of the negotiations for a new treaty.
The Turkish ministry asked spring 1790 the Dutch ambassador if it was possible to buy 3 warships armed with 60-80 guns, to be paid instantly and with a good price. The British ambassador got a same request. The Turkish thought that this request shouldn’t be a problem and easily to be arranged. The Dutch ambassador immediately replied that he seriously doubted if the Dutch could supply warships while the Dutch navy haven’t enough ships to perform her own duties and lately extra funds were raised for new building and fitting out. However he promised to write a positive letter to the States General. The British ambassador seems to have given a comparable answer, without an immediate ‘no’ as answer. He suggested also the possibility of obtaining ships from private persons or from the East India Company, just like last year, although less heavily armed as regular warships.(1) The Turkish official asked the Dutch ambassador if this was also possible in the Dutch republic and if so if he would take care of it. The Dutch ambassador promised to do this. He wrote to counsellor Fagel that if there were such merchants to be found at home, he willing was to look after their interests. The ships were to be in good condition and with an age not exaggerating 5-6 years.
What the Dutch ambassador didn’t know at that moment was the reluctance of the Dutch States General to decide what to do until September 1791!
Letter dated 8 September 1790
The ambassador asked counsellor Fagel to inform him which answer to give.
Letter dated 20 November 1790
The Turkish affairs in the Black Sea were, since some time, not doing well, especially after the premature retirement of their navy. Since then Russia made considerable progress and captured several important locations.
Letter dated 22 December 1790
The Turkish lost the battle near Anapa.
Letter dated 19 March 1791
A few days ago the first division (36 sails) of the Turkish fleet departed from here with a favourable wind to the Black Sea.
Letter dated 22 February 1791
Continuous they asked me if there was an answer from the States General. I haven’t the slightest idea what to say or to do. It is impossible for me to defend this ‘still lasting silence”. So I would appreciate it if the States General decided what to do, even if it’s negative.
Letter dated 3 June 1791
The Turkish asked me again if there was already a decision. If it was a positive decision it would provide an important credit for the Dutch and the mutually relations.
Letter dated 8 September 1791
I’m glad to be able to give the Turkish ministry an answer and which I did already by a small notice, to be followed by an extended answer. Yet, I’m afraid for the reaction of the Turkish. It’s not what they asked for. Mainly the fact that the ships won’t be sent directly to Turkey but were to be delivered in a Spanish harbour will make a sell presumably impossible. The original letter with enclosures I haven’t been able to find yet, but it seems that the Dutch States General was for some reason reluctant in even selling to the Ottoman government.
Letter dated 22 September 1791
The conditions and other important documents dealing with the six ships are translated in French and sent to the Minister and afterwards even translated into Turkish. I still haven’t got a final answer, but it’s clear that they object to the delivery in a Spanish harbour. If this condition doesn’t be changed, I fear for the sell.
Secondly there is some indistinctness in the costs. Are the costs of repairing and fitting out for sea part of the 200.000 and 250.000 guilders mentioned in the first memorial as the price to be paid for the ships? And if so, were they armed or have to be paid extra for guns; at least there has bee talk of 70guns-ships. Apparently a satisfactory estimate was missing. The ambassador warned that the Turkish wouldn’t accept this financial indistinctness. In the meantime the sultan was quite furious about this ever-lasting delay.
Letter dated 8 October 1791
As I was afraid of, the Turkish doesn’t accept a delivery elsewhere and I wished that the sell never became part of the negotiations, but directly was refused. The sultan wonders why his urgent and serious requests for sending a ship, already have been at sea, as soon as possible to Turkey despite his promises to pay at once a good price, never were granted. He was determined to do everything what asked for by the sellers.
The ambassador was told by an official that the court seriously complained about the ridiculous conditions and not to be accepted if not changed.
As far as known there were indeed none Dutch warships sold to the Turkish navy.
Sources
-Archive Legatie Turkije no. 806 (National Archive at The Hague).
-Archive States General no.’s 6991-6692 (National Archive at The Hague).
-Tuncay Zorlu. Innovation and Empire in Turkey. Sultan Selim III and the Modernisation of the Ottoman Navy, London 2008.
Note
Letter dated 21 February 1789
Since some months are here some British frigates lying in the harbour. Although the owners are asking ridiculous prices, the Ottoman government bought one 36-40 guns frigate for 101.000 piasters. The owners are hoping to sell also the other two ships, although the largest seems to be rotten.
Letter dated 1 March 1789
The admiral or Kaptan Pasha, suffering from reprisals due hasn’t been able in avoiding the capture of the city and fortress of Okzakouw by the Russians, is trying to rebuild a large navy. And so he bought the two British frigates I mentioned in my earlier letter. One for 70.000, the other for 50.000 Carolus guilders. In contrary to the army the navy didn’t succeed in finding men.
