Note 16 — PANTHER, 60

The very persistent way in which this story of the loss of the Royal George was spread abroad from the first, the entire suppression of the evidence (on oath) to the contrary, as given at the court martial, and the fact (here and elsewhere so strongly commented on) that care was taken to prevent the success of the proposed attempts to raise her, all point to one conclusion from which it is difficult to escape—the conscious guilt of some high-placed and influential officials of the Navy Board. Cf. Naval Miscellany (N.R.S. xx.) p. 216; and D.N.B. s.nn. Durham, Sir Philip; Kempenfelt, Richard; Waghorn, Martin.