Notebook with mathematical notes, diagrams and problems. Also contains philosophical musings on man and war, geometrical drawings, notes on Chinese words, diagram for creating a weigh balance, instructions to extract salt and draft lines for a poem. Handwritten in a blue paper cover notebook written from both ends. Reverse cover is missing. Cover states "Some philosophical observations in this book".

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

Thomas Manning was an inveterate note-taker, making notes about all aspects of knowledge that interested him. These notes and notebooks cover from his early mathematical and poetical musing, through his travels in China and Tibet to later concerns regarding Roman Catholic emancipation. They have been organised into various sections mainly according to their subject manner.Thus:

• TM/9/1: Notebook with inserts from time at university to later life and covering all topics.
• TM/9/2 - 5 A series of notebooks from Manning's time in China and Tibet including notes on his travels and language studies
• TM/9/6 Loose notes from Chinese period
• TM/9/7 Pocket almanacs with annotations
• TM/9/8 Poetry and Riddles
• TM/9/9 Mathematical Notes and Notebooks
• TM/9/10 Notes on Roman Catholic Emancipation