Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Canton. "All our attention has been absorbed for these last two months by a Contestation between the Supercargoes & the Mandarins respecting delivering up a man for having killed a Chinese. With this letter he encloses an account of the affair. This has stopped them leaving for Macao. He had been to a lavish entertainment by one of the Chinese security merchants which he describes. He is happy and writes that there is much to be learnt in Canton but the Europeans do not learn it because they do not know the language. "We are as babies under nurses" Manning writes of the Europeans and their inability to communicate or look after themselves. "I have no patience with this blustering and huffing in India & licking the dust here". There is a postscript concerning Edward Sheen, the "mock culprit" and concerning the receipt of a letter from his father. With this letter are a letter from J Crabtree to William Manning writing that he is enclosing Thomas' account of the affray at Canton and also asking that Mr Young will now organise sending his letters to China as Crabtree is going to America. There are 2 accounts of the fight between the English crew of the Neptune and the Chinese on 24 February 1807. Hand written, 4 pieces, each 4,4,1 and 4 sides. Letter dated 22 April 1807, postscript 28 April 1807, Accounts dated 16th April 1807, Crabtree letter dated 25 February 1808
Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Canton. He writes that he lives in a most advantageous insulated condition but is making some progress in the languages and has learnt some things only obscurely or not known at all by Europeans. He writes of his time in Macao where they go each summer and he can converse with the French and with English. He is glad he is fluent in French. There are some pleasant English women. It has been discovered that he can sing by notes and therefore has been pressed to take part in concerts. He has sent his luggage to the river ready to embark to go to Cochinchina. Handwritten, 3 sides. Dated 26 February 1808
Letter from Thomas Manning to his sister, [Susanna] from Canton. He writes of receiving letters from other family members and the length of time they have taken to reach him. He writes of his aborted plans to go to Cochinchina. He is pleased with his progress in Chinese having a Chinese scholar to teach him. He hopes when he returns to England to inspire some young men to return to China to complete what he has started. The king of Siam has arrived in Canton and he hopes to dine with him and see if he can join his retinue. He writes about the Spanish conflict and says he has written some songs which when sung at table were prodigiously applauded. Handwritten, 3 sides. Dated 29 September 1809 See TM/9/8/12 for one ballad
Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Canton. He has finally received a letter from his father along with one from his brother, Edward, and another from Crabtree. However much of the letter is taken up with complaining about not receiving letters and trying to explain how best to send Mail to him. He writes that he was downhearted at Christmas but joined in the festivities at New Year. He is sending Mr Woodward "some curious seeds by the Sealeby Castle under the care of G. Staunton". He is sending his father some "supernaculum tea for the rectory". It is directed to Mr Lamb who will pay the duty and then Edward can pay him. Handwritten, 4 sides. Dated 6 January 1808
Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Canton. He writes that the recall of the fleet that was despatched means he can write again with news that he thinks his father and friends at Diss will find gripping. After the fleet had sailed the Chinese had changed their demands regarding Edward Sheen but a boat was despatched to the fleet which returned. The Chinese then changed their demands and there are hopes it can be amicably settled. Manning had been to dinner at a retired Chinese merchant's house with Mandarins, English, Chinese merchants, Mr Chalmers the Swedish chief, some other Swedes and Danes and the Spanish chief. He tried so many new dishes - bird's nest soup with soy, deer's sinews & biche de mer - that they upset his stomach and he has had to dine on roast beef, mutton & chicken & boiled potatoes ever since. He praises Macao, 80-100 miles to south of Canton. Handwritten, 3 sides. Dated 7 May, 1807
Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Chateau de Serrant. He writes that he has been given permission to return to Serrant but not to leave the country, suggesting that English men are detained in France so they may not join the military. He will try to leave France, some people are given permission to travel in other parts of the Empire. He mentions a letter from his brother, William, with praise of one of Thomas' friends. Handwritten,3 sides. Dated 21 October, 1803
Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Chateau de Serrant, Loire Valley . He writes about his days at Serrant teaching English to Madame de Serrant and her sister, Caroline, playing billiards with her brother, talking politics with Monsieur de Serrant, playing with the children and sitting by the fire. They have offered for him to stay until the end of the year but he thinks he will only stay for a month or two. His brother William has written of a possible companion in his Asiatic research and Thomas is contemplating engaging a pupil and travelling overland to Petersburgh that winter or early spring. He concludes by writing that he was to escort Lady [Clavering] to Serrant but her husband, Sir James, had deranged the plan they concocted. Handwritten, 3 sides. Dated 22 April, 1803
Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Chateau de Serrant. He writes that he is prisoner in Serrant as the order has been sent for him to be detained. But he would rather be detained with his friends than a prisoner in Paris. He states: "Everybody in French detests the war". Handwritten, 2 sides. Dated 7th June, 1803
Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Dover and Boulogne. He writes about waiting for his crossing, visiting Dover Castle, his tedious company. From Boulogne he writes about sorting his baggage, one chap falling in the water; his quarters having a blazing wood fire over which he breakfasts. Handwritten, 4 sides. Dated Monday 4 January, 1802
Letter from Thomas Manning to his brother, Edward Manning from Redbourn, [Hertfordshire]. He writes asking Edward to imagine the house in which he is staying with Mr Lau and describes the house, garden, Mr B with his broad Northamptonshire dialect. Handwritten, 2 sides. dated 13 October 1818