The Naval Chronicle, Vol. IV, published in 1801 p. 160 gives an example of British naval intelligence and the knowledge what was happening in the Netherlands.
A quote: “Brussels, Aug. 8-We hear from Rotterdam, that two ships of the line, the Chatham of 80 guns, and the Peter Paul, of 74 newly launched from the dockyards of that port, will soon be completely armed and equipped. A vessel of 80 guns, built at Amsterdam, will be equally soon ready for sea. It has been remarked, that the navy of Holland never had ships carrying more than 74 guns, it is not long since two of greater force were built. On the other side, there has sailed from the Meuse a division of small ships and sloops of war, to the Western Scheldt, for the defence of the island of Zealand”.
There is at least one noteworthy remark, namely that the Dutch ‘never had ships carrying more than 74 guns”. This remark is besides the truth. In the eighties and nineties of the 17th century there were some Dutch warships built with over 90 guns, for instance the 1st charter Keurvorst van Brandenburg of the admiralty Amsterdam, built by Hendrik Cardinaal at the naval yard at Amsterdam in 1688, broken up 1715, dimensions (Amsterdam foot) 170 (prow) x 43 x 16, 92 guns, 500 men, 3-decker. She was broken up 1815.
The Chatham was built by P. Glavimans jr at Rotterdam 1800. Her dimensions were 195 x 51 x 20, Rotterdam, 1800; most sources mentioned an armament of 90 guns!
The Pieter Paulus (later renamed Utrecht) was laid down at the naval yard at Rotterdam 1798, launched 1800 and finally broken up 1815. Her dimensions were 180 x 48 x 21 5/11; according to some sources her armament was 68 instead of 74 guns.
The anonymous 80-guns ship of the line built at the naval yard Amsterdam is presumably the Wreeker (later renamed Koninklijke Hollander, Kroonprins and Prins), laid down 1797 at the naval yard at Amsterdam, launched 1798 and finally broken up 1819. Another possibility is the Admiraal Zoutman. She was launched by R. Dorsman at the naval yard at Amsterdam in 1798, launched 1800 and summer 1801 nearly completed. Her dimensions were (Amsterdam foot) 195 x 51 22.
A quote: “Brussels, Aug. 8-We hear from Rotterdam, that two ships of the line, the Chatham of 80 guns, and the Peter Paul, of 74 newly launched from the dockyards of that port, will soon be completely armed and equipped. A vessel of 80 guns, built at Amsterdam, will be equally soon ready for sea. It has been remarked, that the navy of Holland never had ships carrying more than 74 guns, it is not long since two of greater force were built. On the other side, there has sailed from the Meuse a division of small ships and sloops of war, to the Western Scheldt, for the defence of the island of Zealand”.
There is at least one noteworthy remark, namely that the Dutch ‘never had ships carrying more than 74 guns”. This remark is besides the truth. In the eighties and nineties of the 17th century there were some Dutch warships built with over 90 guns, for instance the 1st charter Keurvorst van Brandenburg of the admiralty Amsterdam, built by Hendrik Cardinaal at the naval yard at Amsterdam in 1688, broken up 1715, dimensions (Amsterdam foot) 170 (prow) x 43 x 16, 92 guns, 500 men, 3-decker. She was broken up 1815.
The Chatham was built by P. Glavimans jr at Rotterdam 1800. Her dimensions were 195 x 51 x 20, Rotterdam, 1800; most sources mentioned an armament of 90 guns!
The Pieter Paulus (later renamed Utrecht) was laid down at the naval yard at Rotterdam 1798, launched 1800 and finally broken up 1815. Her dimensions were 180 x 48 x 21 5/11; according to some sources her armament was 68 instead of 74 guns.
The anonymous 80-guns ship of the line built at the naval yard Amsterdam is presumably the Wreeker (later renamed Koninklijke Hollander, Kroonprins and Prins), laid down 1797 at the naval yard at Amsterdam, launched 1798 and finally broken up 1819. Another possibility is the Admiraal Zoutman. She was launched by R. Dorsman at the naval yard at Amsterdam in 1798, launched 1800 and summer 1801 nearly completed. Her dimensions were (Amsterdam foot) 195 x 51 22.
