According to rumours at Paris was the prince de Joinville ordered to depart 17 June towards Le Havre and to go on board of the steam corvette Pluton destined towards Toulon and Morocco. Until now it was unknown how large the French naval force of the Moroccan coast and which he had to command would be. The ship of the line le Suffren and the steam frigate l’Asmodée were certain to be part of it.
