Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Paris. He writes that another autumn has come and he is still in France but he has put to good use, learning not our of books but "out of crawling things called men. - when I have seen the interior of China, I shall be a consummate politician". He is well treated by the Government but is not pleased by Dr James Crawford running away and writing an impertinent letter to the Minister of War - it caused anxiety amongst the Englishmen still in France. The grapes have ripened and are cheap; preparations for the coronation are underway for 18 brumaire (9 November). He asks his father about shooting and jokes that he should ask to go to England to shoot with him but since game is abundant in France he doesn't think that the promise of a leash of partridge would be sufficient to let the Minister of War give him a passport. Handwritten, 3 sides. Dated 27 September 1804

Letter from Thomas Manning to George Tuthill from (Runjpore), Bengal. Manning has his passport from the Rajah of Bootan (Bhutan) to travel through his country to Lhasa to see the Grand Lama. He will set off the following day. He sends his love to Tuthill' s wife, Maria, and daughter and wishes he was with his friends in England. He likes Tuthill' s plans about Medicine and about publishing a Greek Dictionary about which Manning writes that he knows a great deal about particles and prepositions, compounds and tenses which has never been published. Manning writes though he knows much, he is not keen on Fame. He asks Tuthill for news on Bonaparte's campaign. He adds a postscript about a paper he should have sent to Charles Lamb and in some boxes makes notes about Wordsworth, Coleridge and Lamb. Handwritten, 1 piece, 3 sides. Dated (in letter) 27 August 1811

Official notification from Belville, Le Capitaine commandant au la Gendarmerie nationale du départment de Maine et Loire to give Thomas Manning permission to have parolle d'honneur in the town of [Boungs] d'Angers. Dated 9 prairial an 11 (29th May 1803). Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side. Also a partial handwritten copy, 1 piece, 1 side. This is accompanied by a letter from Belville to Manning, notifying him of the permission. Also dated 9 prairial an 11. Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side

Letter from Thomas Manning (draft) to Général Consul. Manning writes about gaining a passport to come to France for 2 years to study for his enterprise to China. He asks that he can stay in Paris to continue his studies. He mentions Dr Hager, Conservateur des manuscripts chinois. Dated 17 Frimaire, Hotel de Paris. Handwritten, 1 piece, 4 sides

Letter from Thomas Manning (draft) to Napoleon - Votre Majesté - to ask for the correct papers for Manning to travel to Berlin to progress his study of China. This letter is undated but because of the nature of address would suggest it was written after Napoleon's coronation on 2 December 1804. Handwritten 1 piece, 2 sides

Letter from John [Lesane] to [Thomas Manning]. He writes about making minor discoveries concerned with the works of Euclid which he hopes to discuss when Manning has time. He hopes that he will be exempt from British citizens being asked to leave France. In a postscript he informs about the whereabouts of other English people. Undated, handwritten, 1 piece, 3 sides

Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Paris. He has not received any letters for 6 months, nor written any except to his father. He gained permission to return to Paris and is one of the few English who have not been made prisoner of war in Verdun. He asks for his father to write as soon as he receives this letter. Handwritten, 1 side. Dated 12th January 1804