There are two letters:

• Draft Letter from Thomas Manning to "My Lord" in which he remembers his gratitude for his Lordship providing a letter for him to carry when he was travelling to China, in case they were attacked by the French. He now asks for letters of introduction to English residing at the Italian court as he is about to proceed to Italy in order to spend about 2 years. Dated 2 June, 1827. Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side.
• Draft letter from Thomas Manning to "My Lord Duke" in which he thanks him for the letters of introduction and writes more of his studies in mathematics, philosophy and language. Though able to read Italian he wants to be able to attend to its pronunciation. Undated [1827] Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side.

Letter from Thomas Manning, Diss, Norfolk to John Rickman, New Palace Yard, London. He writes that he would have written earlier but Rickman's letter reached him as he was about to leave Cambridge where he had been detained by illness. The majority of the letter is take up with discussing the mathematics concerning resistance and velocity of bodies in fluids. Postmarked 26 March, 1805. Dated in another hand, [12] April, 1805. Handwritten, 1 piece, 3 sides