Draft letter from Thomas Manning to the Directors of the East India Company concerning the Chinese man he has brought with him and whether the East India Company would have reason to employ him. Written From Dr Tuthill's, 13 Soho Square, the letter's postscript has the words "stupid letter" in Manning's hand. Dated 1817. Handwritten, 1 piece, 3 sides

Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Canton. He writes about the letters that he received. He has earned some money translating Company edicts but is glad not to be employed by them but is willing to let them aid his pursuits. He then writes his opinions of the war between France and Spain, and England's involvement, and about the capturing of the Danish fleet. The English fleet has been expelled from Macao, it was a tense time with firing on both sides. He gives a listed assessment of the situation. His beard is now a foot long. Handwritten, 4 sides. Dated 1 March 1809

These Papers consist of a single item - the handwritten manuscript of Heyne's Report on Mysore, detailing information collected by Heyne during Colin Mackenzie's Mysore Survey of 1800, on which Heyne was assistant to Francis Buchanan. The manuscript starts with an apology for having produced the report whilst suffering from ill-health and sets out that the report "may fairly be considered as an enumeration of things deserving to be enquired into and as a prospect of what consequences an investigation of them would be if under favourable auspices and in better hands." It considers climate, earthquakes and other phenomena, produce and production, rivers and lakes, mineral springs, topography, mineral deposits, birds, fish and animals, coins, commerce, languages and culture. The title page states, "Presented by John Hodgson Esq., June 16 1827, Keyne's report on Mysore" and the label states, "Catalogue of English MSS IV No 15., Heyne's Report on Mysore presented by John Hodgson Esq., MRAS".

Handwritten, on loosely bound and loose papers, 93 sides plus further title page and cover label, probably dating to 1800 or shortly after.

The Report seems to be a manuscript of part of Tracts, Historical and Statistical on India; with Journals of Several Tours through Various Parts of the Peninsula: Also an Account of Sumatra in a Series of Letters by Benjamin Heyne, published in London, 1814.

The 'Aja'ib al Tabaqat' (Wonders of the Universe) is a Persian text that was purchased by Sir Alexander Burnes in the Bazar of Bukhara 1832. This translation lists the author of the 'Aja'ib al Tabaqat' as 'Muhammad Tahir, son of Abul Qasim.' The 'Aja'ib al Tabaqat' is part of the 'aja'ib' genre in medieval Islamic literature, 'aja'ib' meaning 'marvelous, strange or unusual.' The 'aja'ib' genre consists of discussions on the marvels of the world and often contain cosmographical content. The 'Aja'ib al Tabaqat' includes a creation story, accounts of Islamic prophets and descriptions of various countries and cities. Sir Legrand's translation states the original text by Muhammad Tahir son of Abul Qasim, was written in 1819.

The text consists of one hardbound volume of handwritten text. It is an incomplete manuscript in that Sir Legrand Jacob has omitted various sections in his translation, indicating where he has done so. The pastedowns include text in another language.
The volume contains a pencil drawing of a temple titled 'A temple near […]' At the beginning of the text is a handwritten letter from Sir Legrand Jacob, dated 'Kutch, June 20 1853' which states that in his opinion, the text was not worth translating but he reluctantly complied to the request from the Oriental Translation Committee and translated it. This letter mentions Sir Gore Ouseley.

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.

Third Volume - Untitled on outside of book, inside title reads Britain in Java 1811-1812 Contemporary documents

• First section - 'Instructions to the first British Resident appointed to the Court of His Highness the Susunan of [ ] (or Solo) Java', by [J. Eckford?] the acting secretary of the Lieutenant Governor. 5 pages of handwritten text.
• Second section - 'Memorial concerning the limits of the existing Relations between the Court of [ ] and the former Government'. 4 pages of handwritten text.
• Third section - 'Contract between the British Government on one side, and the foe [...] [possibly Pakubuwono IV] lord of the manor of half of the high Country of Java'. 4 pages of handwritten text containing 15 articles.
• Fourth section - 'Copy of the 24th article of the contract of the year 1792, between the British Government and the Sultan of [ ]. 2 pages of handwritten text.
• Fifth section - Colonel Adams' report to T. S. Raffles, containing advice for the court of Solo, December 3rd 1811. 11 pages of handwritten text.
• Sixth section - Letter to Lieutenant Colonel Adams by T. S. Raffles on government matters, December 6th 1811. 9 pages of handwritten text.
• Seventh section - Letter to Colonel Adams regarding the conduct of the Susuhunan, by Thomas [Claude], March 9th 1812. 3 pages of handwritten text.
• Eighth section - Letter to T. S. Raffles, the Lieutenant Governor, by Alexander Adams in response to the previous letter (seventh section), March 20th 1812. 3 pages of handwritten text.
• Ninth section - Treaty of friendship between the British East India Company and the local ruler (possibly Pakubuwono IV), mediated by Alexander Adams. 5 pages of handwritten text containing 17 articles.
• Tenth section - Treaty between the British East India Company and the local ruler Hamengkubuwnono III, written by John Crawfurd. 5 pages of handwritten text containing 22 articles.
• Eleventh section - Proof of correspondence between a vasal of the British Government and the Court of Mataram, found in the bureau of the Sultan. Translated by T. S. Raffles and one other [illegible]. 5 pages of handwritten text.
• Twelfth section - 'Minutes of a conversation with H. H. the Sultan', by H. Hope, July 12th 1812. 3 pages of handwritten text.
• Thirteenth section - A letter to T. S. Raffles by H. Hope regarding his conversation with the Susuhunan. 3 pages of handwritten text.
• Fourteenth section - A preliminary treaty set out by the British in response to the conversation with the Susuhunan, possibly by H. Hope. 2 pages of handwritten text containing 7 articles.
• Fifteenth section - 'Definitive Treaty between the British Government [&] H. H. the [Susuhunan]'', March 1813, signed by Lord Minto, T. S. Raffles and one other. 5 pages of handwritten text containing 22 articles.
• Sixteenth section - 'Some Brief notices of Javanese Histories, political events, traditions' in Malay and English, by unknown author. 5 pages of handwritten text, Malay on the left, English on the right.
• Seventeenth section - 'Some further notices of Javanese History', by unknown author. 5 pages of handwritten text.
• Eighteenth section - 'Further notices of [ ] or pretenders to Royalty' in Malay and English, by unknown author. 3 pages of handwritten text.
• On reverse side of bound volume, first section - Names and titles of all members of the court in Java by unknown author. 9 pages of handwritten text.
• On reverse side of bound volume, second section - Memoirs of a volcanic eruption of Mount Tombora on the Island of Sumbawa, April 1815, by unknown author. 5 pages of handwritten text.