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On the 12th of November 1892, when by weekly instalments, twenty years of this History had been completed, the following remarks appeared:-

The historian of the Gazette, who, for convenience, has assumed more than one nom de plume, is the possessor of many commendatory letters, which have encouraged him to extend his narratives of the past much beyond the limit of his first intention; and as he hopes to be able to carry them to a still greater length, he appends a few extracts from communications quite recently to hand, as an indication that his labour are not unappreciated.

A gentleman, writing from near London to his friend at St. Leonards, says:-

I thank you very much for the papers you kindly send me. I am very much interested in the history of old Hastings, and when I see the names of tradesmen and others of whom I knew so well, it takes me back to the days of my youth, and reminds me that I am getting old myself. About 46 years ago my father, when writing to me from Hastings said - 'We have been quite gay at the East End this week for 'Towser' has been married to 'Dahdedum' This event, I suppose, would have taken place in the aristocratic neighbourhood of Bourne Street; and although I have not seen the names of these notable persons mentioned in Brett's Gazette, I daresay the Editor knew both the and their ancestors

A gentleman clergyman at Dallington also writes:-

The copies of the Gazette I read with much interest, They contain matters about the Fuller family at Brightling, which I know to be correct. The instruments at the Observatory I have seen many times, and with many friends. It was a pity to remove them all so completely and to so cut the connection of the Observatory with its importance in the past. A windmill used to stand on the site of the Observatory, and I have conversed with many persons who remembered it; but they are all now gone whence there is no return

Another gentleman, writing from Lewisham, says:-

Where would the name of Farncomb now be if you had not rescued it from obscurity; also that of Stone, a scion of the house of Farncomb? When I reflect on the honourable career of Mr. Alderman Farncomb and that of his favourite nephew, I can hardly believe the fact until the appearance of your history no trace remained of these two illustrious Lord-Mayors of London who were both Hastings men. In truth, so declining had been the Farncombs and Stones that the names had almost become extinct. How different it has been with the opulent family of the Earl of Essex and others who trace their pedigrees from a Lord-Mayor of London! As regards Mr. Farncomb and his nephew, it would appear that their honours, like an electric flash, though beautiful for an instant, quickly subsided into obscurity. I trust that health and happiness will attend your earthly career and the hope of everlasting happiness heareafter sustains you in every trial of life.

The foregoing few extracts from some of the more recent letters to the editor, are here given - firstly, to show that the historical and biographical productions of the Gazette are not unappreciated; secondly, that those extracts from communications have an interest of their own; and thirdly, that they, together with the too flattering encomiums of the local press, afford an incentive to the writer to continue as long as he is able his own reminiscences of the past and the use of such material as he may have collected. His only regret is that he probably may not live long enough to complete by more than half the work that of later years he has turned his attention to.

And now, even at the risk of being suspected of egotistical indulgence, another extract from the already quoted journal is here subjoined. On May 21st 1887, it said:-

Evidence has been afforded us from time to time of the interest taken in the historical and biographical sketches which St. Leonardensis has been introduced by a well known Hastings surgeon (Mr. H. G. Shorter) to the Rt. Hon. Sir Charles Lennox Wyke, who has again visited Hastings after an absence of fifty six years, and who is naturally astonished at the immense growth of the borough during that period. Our contributor was enabled to answer all Sir Charles's (sic) enquiries to his satisfaction, and to relate to him some personal reminiscences of the visits of the Duke, Duchess and Prince George of Cumberland, the Princess Victoria (our present Queen), and the Dowager Queen Adelaide, all of whom our said contributor had, in one way or anther, the honour of serving. Sir Charles did not say why he was interested in the visit to Hastings in 1832 of Prince George of Cumberland (the late King of Hanover) with his father and mother, but the following information from official sources appears to afford an explanation. Sir Charles Wyke, who was born in 1815, was for some time an officer in the Royal Fusiliers, and was afterwards on the general staff of the late King of Hanover. He entered the diplomatic service in 1845, when he was appointed the vice-consul at Port-au-Prince. In 1852 Sir Charles was consul-general in America, subsequently becoming charge d'affaires, his next positions being those of minister-plenipotentiary in Mexico, and minister at Hanover, Oldenburg and Brunswick. His latest appointments were as minister to Denmark (1867-81) and to Lisbon (1881-4)

In one of the numerous letters from the late esteemed G. A. Kegworth, that gentleman says:-

We are really proud of you, ever were it only for your valuable history. May you long be spared to give us your treasury of local knowledge.

The Hon. Robert Marsham-Townshend writes

I have read with great interest your articles on 'Sir Cloudseley Shovell' in the numbers of the Gazette which Mrs. Rousby has kindly allowed me to see. Like her, I am descended from Sir Cloudseley and have closely investigated the subject of his genealogy, with fairly complete results, which I hope to print, ere long. When I bring out my book I hope to give due space to the Hastings traditions about Sir Cloudesley. I thank you heartily for your kindness in sending me copies of the Cloudesley and Shovell extracts. Sir Cloudesley spelt (sic) his name in the same way - "Shovell"! I am sending you a copy of a pamphlet by the late Mr. Cooke, containing, as you will see, a most interesting report of the circumstance of the finding of Sir Cloudesley's body made in 1709 and published for the first time in 1883

— Robert Marsham Townshend, Foot's Cray, Kent

From Mr. Noble:

Your exhaustive articles on Sir Cloudesley Shovell and Titus Otes (sic) do you much credit, and exhibit a painstaking research that to a practical antiquarian like myself is very gratifying. When you send me (as I anticipate that pleasure) the Gazette of tomorrow, will you kindly enclose me one of last Saturdays, which if sent, never came to hand! I do not wish to miss one of your papers on the 'Armada!!!

— J C Noble, Greenwood Road, Dalston.

(Mr. Noble was author of several curious antiquarian productions and supplied the writer of this History with the correct names of the Habel Mariners" (sic) who were registered for the Hastings contingent to repel the Spanish Invasion).

As a native of Hastings, though for 60 years past only an occasional visitor, I am always interested in anything connected with its early history! and I read your articles on that subject with the greatest pleasure

— Alfred Bryant, Enfield