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

Thomas Manning was a keen amateur poet and had a lifelong interest in riddles. These are draft poems and riddles mainly created by Manning through his adult life. There are also instances of Manning adopting mirror writing.

Poem beginning "Doomed to search if human nature…" Manning muses on his need to travel but how he will miss a certain "dearest…" Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side

"Ballad. Written at Macao" This poem is about Spain and hope for Britain and Spain to ever be united. Handwritten, 1 piece, 3 sides See TM/1/2/3 when he writes of composing this piece

Draft of poem beginning "Earth's great girls stablish mountain cloth, from place of rest they go". Poem in heroic couplets. Reverse side has Chinese characters. Handwritten, 1 piece, 2 sides

Draft of poem beginning "Go lovely Flower, that with thy sister flowers". Unrhymed verse. "To Mrs B., greeting from her [Servant]". Handwritten, 1 piece, 2 sides

Draft of poem "Address to the […der] Pereira asking for the vessel to safely transport a "Jewel of too rich a sort/to linger here unknown". On reverse is "Lines to Mrs B (Macao). Handwritten, 1 piece, 2 sides

Neat version of a poem "After the Stone was Laid" concerning the blessing of a foundation stone. Mentions Queen Victoria therefore post 1837. Handwritten, 1 piece, 2 sides

Drafts of poems "Old friend winter", Here comes mild May", and "I'm on tenters and hooks for the Packet of Books" in which he addresses Mr Payne to send his books to Dartford promptly. Also copies of these poems in mirror writing. Handwritten 4 pieces, 5 sides

Draft of a poem to Miss Hoare by "Ignote" (unknown). Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side