Rijksmuseum Amsterdam. Original source
An item referred to what a local Brazilian newspaper reported over the visit at Rio Janeiro of the Dutch frigate Adolf hertog van Nassau.(1) She was visited by the Brazilian minister of navy and later by the Brazilian emperor. The latter even had a conversation of 1,5 hour with her commanding officer Uhlenbeck.(2) Uhlenbeck was ordered by the Dutch king to take with him the decorations given for the Brazilian support to the Dutch corvette Prinses Amalia.(3) As a result the newspaper asked the cabinet to improve the relations with the Netherlands which were not as well as they should be. Far more interesting for the Dutch (naval) shipbuilding were the remarks made about the Adolf Hertog van Nassau. She was described as built of an excellent Construction [navy yard at Flushing] for a third less costs as she was built by a British or French shipyard. The result was that the newspaper wondered if it was not better to let Brazilians warships built at Dutch shipyards as it was more cheaper that the ships now built in England.
Notes
1. Displacement of 3.750 tons and as dimensions 62,36-7286 x 15,72 x 6,80 metres. Commissioned on 21 April 1879 at Willemsoord as guard ship, later used al floating barracks for the 4th regiment fortress artillery, commissioned on 27 February as guard ship was she finally sold in the second half of 1918. The newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated Tuesday 7 December 1858 reported that on the Saturday the keel was laid down of the screw steam frigate 1st class to be named Adolf hertog van Nassau. The edition dated 27 April 1861 reported that her 450 hp strong engine was manufactured in the factory of Paul van Vlissingen and Dudok van Heel at Amsterdam conspicuous by the neat finish. The edition dated 25 May reported her intended launching on 13 June the birthday of lieutenant admiral prince Hendrik der Nederlanden. The edition of 1 June reported however that she was to be launched on the 8th. This latter date was correct as she was launched that Saturday at 13.30 o’clock. On 3 December was reported that she was to be fitted out and ready for service against 1 April of the next year. Two years later on 5 February however was reported that she was to be brought towards Nieuwediep and stayed for a possible commissioning. In March were again workmen of the navy yard at Flushing to be transferred to other navy departments. The transfer to Nieuwediep was not executed as the newspaper Vlissings Weekblad dated 18 July reported that on Friday the 24th tenders were asked for building an iron roof to cover the ship with all delivery of all necessary materials. For ƒ 12.300 received M. Viché of Haarlem the order. The Middelburgsche Courant dated 12 July 1864 reported that the steam frigate Zeeland lying at Nieuwediep was condemned for the service in the Indies and that the Adolf hertog van Nassau in all emergency was prepared to be commissioned.
2. Olke Arnoldus Uhlenbeck (18 March 1810-26 March 1888 The Hague) ended his naval career in the rank of vice admiral. Another Dutch newspaper Vlissings Weekblad dated 30 June 1866 reported that captain O.A. Uhlenbeck was promoted by royal decision dated the 23rd no. 66 to the rank of rear admiral and to be replaced as commanding officer by captain G.P.J. Mossel. Uhlenbeck seemed to be appointed as director and commanding officer at Willemsoord.
3. On stocks as sail corvette at Rotterdam on 30 August 1845, disassembled in 1850 and transport to the navy yard at Flushing, on 29 July 1853 again laid down and launched in the afternoon of 13 October 1855 as the Prinses Amelia with auxiliary steam power. Stricken in 1875. The newspaper Middelburgsche Courant dated 9 August 1864 referred to a private letter received from Rio Janeiro dated 8 July that this steam corvette commanded by captain lieutenant J.J. Wichers was lying there and intended to depart the next week to Java. She had under gone heavy repairs in the imperial arsenal over there.
