This Series contains 52 letters between Thomas Manning and his father, William Manning, Rector of Diss. These date from 1785, when Thomas was a child on holiday, until 1810, the year of William Manning's death There are a further 5 letters between Thomas Manning and other family members.

Negotiations for the terminologies to be used between foreign traders and the Qing government. A document handwritten in Chinese outlining matters concerning use of language, official actions to be undertaken, use of sampans, use of local labour, escort ships and warships, that all the details have been discussed with George Thomas Staunton and shouldn't need further discussion. This is single document of 3 sheets fixed together. The paper is in fragile condition. With the document is a translation into modern Chinese and an approximate English translation, undertaken in 2018.

Investigation on a court case that merchants sold opium at high sea in the nineteenth year of Jiaqing's reign (1814). The document is based on statements from Chinese merchants. This document, handwritten in Chinese, is on a single sheet of paper which is in a fragile condition.
With the document is a translation into modern Chinese and an English abstract, undertaken in 2018.

Letter from H Robinson, Kendal to Rev William Manning, Diss, Norfolk. He writes of his own illness and recovery and thanks William Manning for the pleasant time he and his niece spent with the Manning family. He has heard via Mr Lloyd that Thomas Manning is now recovered and that he may visit Westmorland that summer. However he has heard that Thomas has plans to travel again, this time to Russia and then on to China. He hopes that Thomas Manning's studies and publications will detain him at home this year. Robinson asks that if Manning publishes by subscription that his name be put to him when William Manning writes to his son. William Manning (son) he writes has finished college and is occupied in altering a house and laying out a garden. Madam Susan and [Miss Phoney] he understands have been in town this spring and hoped they enjoyed Sir Chappelow's house. he writes that when he visited Mrs Manning looked nearly as well as she did in 1796, only more lame. He writes of his own family's health. The rest of the letter is taken with his views of the political situation, both the conflict with France and Napoleon's power and the Roman Catholic Irish problem. He asks to be remembered to Mr B Wiseman. Dated 31 May 1805. Handwritten, 1 piece, 4 sides

Thomas Manning was an inveterate note-taker, making notes about all aspects of knowledge that interested him. These notes and notebooks cover from his early mathematical and poetical musing, through his travels in China and Tibet to later concerns regarding Roman Catholic emancipation. They have been organised into various sections mainly according to their subject manner.Thus:

• TM/9/1: Notebook with inserts from time at university to later life and covering all topics.
• TM/9/2 - 5 A series of notebooks from Manning's time in China and Tibet including notes on his travels and language studies
• TM/9/6 Loose notes from Chinese period
• TM/9/7 Pocket almanacs with annotations
• TM/9/8 Poetry and Riddles
• TM/9/9 Mathematical Notes and Notebooks
• TM/9/10 Notes on Roman Catholic Emancipation

Hardcover folder with green /red marbling. The initial M is written on ink on front cover. This contains notes, some of which are still held to the cover, others are loose and include three small notebooks. They cover from Manning's time at university to his later years.

Chinese notebook, small, green cloth covered, including original pencil. Contains Chinese vocabularies; 2 sketches of Dalai Lama; shopping lists and memos; medical notes; list of English words beginning 'ab'; diary notes on leaving Lhasa; notes on literature - French, Greek, etc.; mathematical problems. Inserted are loose sheets of paper - more diary notes; numerical list.

Chinese notebook, small, green cloth covered. Contains notes of a linguistic nature in Latin, English and French. Inserted are several loose sheets of paper including a receipt in Chinese dated 1816; Latin and English notes; 2 sheets of mathematical problems, one of which is on the reverse of a letter to Thomas Manning from [Lowe Ammo] concerning payment, dated P.N. Island (Penang) 23 February 1813.

Chinese notebook, small, green cloth covered. Contains notes on Chinese grammar and language with comparisons with English language; comments on the use of Greek in Homer's Iliad. Back cover has pencil sketch of [Tibetan/Chinese house]. Loose sheets include 2 drafts of a love poem dated 15 October 1812; some Latin sentences; title "Notes on Lassa" with mathematical calculations on reverse.

Notes from Chinese Period - these are loose notes associated with Thomas Manning's period in China. They consists of a translation fora Chinese prescription, a Memorandum note to the Factories and Residents at Canton and Macao, and a farewell note from General Liu