Thomas Manning was admitted to Cambridge University to study mathematics. He was very able and though did not graduate, he continued in teaching position at Cambridge for some time beforel he travelled to France to study Chinese. He was keen to develop new theorems. He published a mathematical text and corresponded with other mathematicians.

His interest in mathematics was lifelong - this subseries contains notes made on the back of letters postmarked as late as 1837.

There are both notebooks, one of which appears to be a manuscript for a book, and assorted loose notes and calculations.

Manuscripts concerned with bodies at rest and in motion and velocity. Handwritten, 13 pieces, 28 sides

Loose sheets from notebook(s) with mathematical problems and propositions. Includes "Of the vibrations of a Mus(ical) String"

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

Letter from "Amicus" to Thomas Manning concerning his recently published Algebraic Treatise in which he corrects some of Manning's publication. "An Introduction to Arithmetic and Algebra" by Thomas Manning was published by Rivingtons in 1796. Dated 20 September [1796] Handwritten, 1 piece, 4 sides

Hardcover folder with green /red marbling. The initial M is written on ink on front cover. This contains notes, some of which are still held to the cover, others are loose and include three small notebooks. They cover from Manning's time at university to his later years.

Geometrical Propositions. Draft manuscript. Handwritten, 1 piece, 3 sides

There are 52 letters mostly written by Thomas to his father. They include letters from when Thomas was at Cambridge, in France, in London, and in Canton, Macao and Kolkata.

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.