French navy ordered building of an armoured frigate according to the Dutch newspaper Nederlandsche staatscourant dated 14 September 1858

An item referred to the Parisian newspaper Constitutionnel that recently the navy at Cherbourg was ordered to built an armoured frigate armoured with iron made plates with a thickness of 10”-12”. The drawings already arrived. She had to have enough horsepower to be competitive with the fastest sailing ships. To be armed with 30 rifled guns with a far range. Next year was to start with a similar frigate. Also was stated that the disarmed ship of the line Jena lying at Cherbourg on short notice was to converted on a slip into a screw steamship and with iron to be planked just like the floating batteries.