“I promised to write to you, but I have not had time to do so till now, since I saw you at Waterloo. You were desirous of having my testimony of the authenticity of the different articles collected from the field, that I saw in your house. I can have no hesitation in giving it generally. Many of the things I saw, I could speak to as having belonged to regiments of my own brigade. “It is but just also to you to say, that the account you gave me of the various occurrences of the day, was, as far as I knew, extremely correct, and by no means exaggerated, and I give you full credit for the pains you have taken to collect the details. I sincerely hope, that from the occupation you have undertaken, you will derive the means of passing the remainder of your days in competence and comfort; and thus reap the reward of your intelligence, on a field where you had previously proved your courage. “Your friend, “HUSSEY VIVIAN, lieutenant-general.” “I have seen at various times, Sergeant-Major Cotton’s collection of spoils of the campaign of 1815, and I am of opinion that they are genuine relics, and such as may be relied on. “HENRY FLOYD, Bart., colonel unattached, captain 10th hussars at Waterloo. “BRUSSELS, 1848.” “BRUSSELS, October 2d, 1845. “SERGEANT-MAJOR COTTON, “I received so much satisfaction from our walk over the field of Waterloo yesterday, that I am induced to leave with you the expression of it. “Being anxious to satisfy myself regarding certain operations of the day, particularly the movements of the light brigade, (52d, 71st, 95th,) to which I belonged, I found your exact knowledge of the ground, and the numerous details you have collected, highly instructive and interesting. “I am glad to learn that you intend publishing a memoir of the battle, and will not fail to become a purchaser as soon as it appears. “Your sincere well-wisher, “THOMAS HUNTER BLAIR, colonel.” “NAMUR, June 29th, 1846. “SERGEANT-MAJOR COTTON, “I have read your book ... with very great interest.... Thinking from our conversation on the field respecting the present condition of the ground on which Halkett’s brigade acted, that you would be pleased to know the opinion of even so undistinguished a member of that body as myself, respecting your explanation of the events of the battle thereabouts, ... I hesitate not to say that I was at once surprised and gratified to hear from you ... the best and most correct detail of the proceedings ... that I have either heard or read.... Further ... you made me far better acquainted with the details of what occurred at Hougoumont, and to its right, than I ever was before.