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Thank you very much for the papers you gave me when at Hastings, and in which there is such an interesting account of Powell's Library, built and established by my grandfather, Peter Malaport Thuiller Powell. I also greatly thank you for your kindness during my brief visit to Hastings, in showing me the old home of my mother, which I had always been anxious to see. I hope, some day, to visit Europe again, when I shall certainly devote more time to Hastings

— (Mrs). E. H. Redington, Washington, United States

Mr. Brett must have sacrificed a large amount of time, labour and money in getting together the material for his wonderful 'History', which appeared like Tennyson's book, to be able to flow on for ever; and it seems a great pity that such zeal and activity cannot be collected in some form that would preserve it for coming generations. There must be thousands of Hastings folk and their descendants scattered over the world to whom a bound record would be a priceless treasure!

— Hastings & St Leonards News

I have often asked why the interesting and valuable information which Mr. T. B. Brett has for years been engaged in pouring out in the columns of the Gazette has not been gathered up and published in book form. It is a thousand pities that so much local lore should be practically wasted in other words that the learned Editor's contributions should be confined to the columns of the Gazette, when, if published in printed volumes they might find a place on the library shelves of thousands and in the Reference Library and other institutions be accessible to all the townspeople. It may be thought a sweeping statement to make, yet I am firmly convinced that there is not a town in the Kingdom of the modern history of which so much has been written, and well written, as of Hastings

— Editor of Hastings and St Leonards Observer

I have been so busy lately that I have not had time to tell you how much I have been interested in your researches amongst the oldest parish records in relation to the ship-owners and Captains of the Armada Period

— W. Crake, Highland Gardens

I was interested to see in the Hastings News your articles on 'Fires and Firemen' and the Brooks of Bexhill and Hastings! They bear evidence of the indomitable energy and application which I have for so many years characterised you literary and other labours

— A. L. Hardy, St Johns, S.E.

I am much obliged to you for your sketches of Croft House. Great credit is due to you for such an accurate account and you must possess a wonderful memory to be able to recall so many incidents of former years

— Maria Brisco, Bohemia House

Your meteorological forecasts have been very correct

— J.B E__, Peterborough

As a member of an old Hastings family, I am very much interested in your 'True Story of the '

— W. H. Walter, Manchester

Your local records are wonderfully entertaining and instructive

— G. A. Keyworth, Hastings

Mr Thomas Geering writes -

"I am pleased to have made your aquaintance(sic) in an accidental manner at Hailsham on the occasion of the interment of your relative. I thank you for a paper with the article 'After Fifty Years'. The narrative relating to Chiddingly is very interesting to me and my wife as we knew that parish well. The early spring of 1834 I remember as I was then just out of my time as an apprentice. We had four plum trees that in February were in full bloom, but never a plum came from them, all the blossom having fallen off prematurely. In reference to the poor fellow who was charged with firing Breed's barn, I witnessed that trial and heard him condemned. If you read my book 'Our Parish', you will find my remarks at page 15. [The author of 'Our Parish' is a fascinating writer, and as he is now dead and his book is out of print, the following quotation may be read with some degree of interest:

I witnessed the conviction of one young fellow at the Assize at Lewes - the saddest sight I ever saw - for firing a barn in the neighbourhood of Hastings. As he turned to leave the dock he said, in trembling accents ' Jack you have sworn my life away'. In a few days the culprit was hanging by the neck. Under the beam his last words were 'I am innocent'. Ten years later, remorse and the approach of death made Jack exclaim 'I fired the barn in Jim's shoes'. These men had been fellow workers, and both had lived in the same house. It was the shoe prints that had sent Jim Buffard to the hangman!"

The foregoing extract from among many, other communications and the not a few persons, who, coming from a distance, have called the writer for information, sufficiently attest the fact that more than our own people are interested in our local 'bygones'."