Poor Canning had my small dispatch box in our battle yesterday and when he was killed it was lost. I shall be very much obliged to you if you will send me another of the same size as the last with the same lock and key and leather cover, &c., as soon as possible. Let it have in it a small silver or thick glass inkstand with one of Braham's patent penholders and one of his pens. What do you think of the total defeat of Buonaparte by the British Army? Never was there in the annals of the world so desperate or so hard fought an action or such a defeat. It was really the battle of the Giants. My heart is broken by the terrible loss I have sustained of my old friends and companions and my poor soldiers. I shall not be satisfied with the battle however glorious if it does not of itself put an end to Buonaparte.

This letter was written at 4 o'clock in the morning after the battle.

The letter before it (126) realised only 8s., and two letters sold together (128) after it, only 9s., although both were excellent specimens of Wellington's style.

There was another autograph sale at "Sotheby's" on July 18th and 19th. In this sale the following prices were obtained:—

£s.d.
Queen Elizabeth. Letter with sign-manual1000
Henry VIII. Letter with sign-manual8100
A.L.S. John Keats, 3 pp.(1818)35100
A.L.S. Matthew Prior(1704)1050
Francis Bacon, note of 10 lines, signed3000
One hundred A.L.S. of Dorothy Wordsworth2600

By way of contrast the following letter of the late Sir H. M. Stanley, addressed to the Secretary of the Temple Club, realised only one shilling:—

I can assure you it is none the less welcome, on the contrary when my eyes glance over the list of illustrious men composing the Honorary Committee I am lost in admiration of the brilliant prize I have so unexpectedly received. Where Froude and Dickens, Dixon, Taylor, and Hood tread I am only too conscious that very much greater men than myself ought to be proud to follow.

The following A.L.S. of Lady Hamilton's was sold for £12 15s.:—

Clarges St., May 8, to: