(Vol. iv., p. 54.)
I did not speak of my own recollection of Girtin's panorama; my memory
cannot reach so far back. It was my father who does perfectly remember
_Girtin's_ semicircular panorama. I think the mistake must be with H. T.
E. Some years back a large collection of Girtin's drawings and sketches
were sold at Pimlico; my father went to see them, and was delighted to
find among them some of the original sketches for this panorama, which
he immediately recognised and bought. He afterwards showed them to
Girtin's son, now living in practice as a surgeon at Islington (I
believe), who identified them as his father's work, and with whom I went
to see the painting, when not many years back it was found in a
carpenter's loft. Girtin certainly was a painter principally in water
colour, and one who, with the present J. M. W. Turner, contributed much
to the advancement of that branch of art; but I do not see how that is a
reason why he did not paint a panorama. I should think it not unlikely
that two semicircular panoramas of the same subject were painted; and,
therefore, with all deference, believe that the mistake is with H. T. E.
Girtin's son, if applied to, could, and I am sure would, give any
information he possessed readily.