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.

Sentences which explore the different uses of words such as contrary, about, according to, above, at, before. Handwritten, 2 pieces, 5 sides

The Fifth International Congress of Linguists took place in Brussels from 28 August to 2 September 1939. This material contains correspondence and printed material connected to this Congress. These are:

• First Circular for the Fifth International Congress of Linguists giving details of the Conference and the topics to be addressed. Written in French, dated 20 October 1938.
• Postcard from H.W. Bailey to Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to inform him that Bailey was intending to attend the Congress. Handwritten, dated 12 January 1939.
• Letter from Col. Hoysted, Secretary, Royal Asiatic Society, to the Secretary, International Congress of Linguists, to inform him that Professor H.W. Bailey will represent the Society at the Congress. Typed, dated 26 January 1939.

Letter from J. Clifford Wright to Phil to enclose his letter of thanks to the Asiatic Society for their gift in enabling him to be present at the Asiatic Society's international Seminar on Indo-European Linguistics, 1-2 February 1986, and to make some comments upon the conference. Dated 25 February 1986. The copy of the letter from Wright to Dr Ray Chaudhuri is also present, dated 25 February 1986.

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.

"Goldsmith. An Almanack" for 1831. Small leather bound almanac with annotations on blank pages including book titles, Polish Consonants, politics. Loose sheets include washing/shopping list, English phrases and in tong kien. Brown leather cover with loose sheets inserted.

"Goldsmith. An Almanack" for 1832. Small leather bound almanac with annotations on blank pages including literary quotes, notes on Greek, medicines/chemicals, uses of word "face", Chinese stories, Aristotle. Loose sheets include calling card from Sir William Gell asking Manning to accompany him to the Chinese Museum; calling card for Francisque Michel; newspaper cutting regarding the donation of Thomas Manning's library to the RAS by the executors of Manning's will. Red leather cover with loose sheets inserted.

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.

Five pocket almanacs with leather covers "Goldsmith. An Almanack" for 1825, 1826, 1831, 1832, 1833. All are annotated and contain inserted notes on loose sheets of paper

"Scraps of English with a Literal Latin translation", Manning has written English phrases and given them a Latin "translation" seemingly based on phonetics rather than accurate meaning. Handwritten 8 pieces, 16 sides