Thornbury is responsible for the following:—
'I am afraid the tradition is too true, that that great and bitter satirist of poor humanity's weaknesses, Mr. Thackeray, had more than a finger in thus lashing the dotage of a great man's genius. Long after, I have heard that Mr. Thackeray was shown some of Turner's finest water-colour drawings, upon which he exclaimed: "I will never run down Turner again." But the blows had already gone to the old man's heart, and it did no good to lament them then.'
In the Sketch-Books of 1845 and 1846, we find him at 'Folkestone,' 'Hythe and Walmer,' 'Ambleteuse and Wimereux,' 'Boulogne,' 'Eu and Treport,' 'Dieppe,' and back again at 'Folkestone.' In the last of all the Sketch-Books, 'Kent,' 1845-46, when Turner was over seventy, is this against a drawing of 'Houses and Church':
'May 30. Margate, a small opening along the horizon marked the approach of the sun by its getting yellow,' etc.
Plate XXXIX. Tell's Chapel, Fluelen. Water colour (1845) In the collection of W. G. Rawlinson, Esq. (Size, 11 3/8 x 9)
A little later in this valedictory Sketch-Book is the following in his own handwriting:—
'May. Blossoms. Apple, Cherry, Lilac,
Small white flowers in the Hedges,
in Clusters, D. Blue Bells,
Buttercups and daisies in the fields,
Oak, Warm, Elm G., Ash, yellow,' etc.