These letters are personal letters to and from Thomas Manning, many of which are from the de Vaudreuil and de Serrant family members

These are official documents which allow Manning to move around in France during the time of the Napoleonic conflict with England. There are also drafts of letters from Thomas Manning requesting permission to travel in France and to return to England.

Notification from État-Major Général, ay Quartier général, à Paris stating on the orders of the Premier Consul that Thomas Manning should leave Paris and go to Serrant. This order replaces any previous orders. Signed by A Junot. Dated 6th { ] an 11, (dated in another hand as 9 September 1803). Printed document with handwritten details. Also has in margins a note from Belville. 1 piece, 1 side

Letters from Thomas Manning to William Manning (father) and William Manning (brother) on same piece of paper. To his father he writes about finally getting a letter from his father; of cold weather in Paris for April; that he is "perfectly well & unmolested"; that Paris is calm but the trials for high treason will commence soon; not to believe surmises and conjectures in the papers pretending to come from high authority. To his brother he bemoans that he doesn't write; asks how he and his brother Edward are; how the college (Cambridge) is getting on now Dr Davy is Master. He remarks he has opportunity for studying the French character and muses on France and England and impossibility of really comparing places. Handwritten, 3 sides. Date 19th April, 1804

Letter of recommendation for Thomas Manning from Stanislas Julien. Addressed to T Davis, Member of the Society Asiatique du Londres, the letter concerns the obtaining of Chinese texts. Manning will purchase in London. He has become a member of the Asiatic Society of London and hope to receive the next Transactions. Undated [post 1824], Handwritten in French and Chinese, 1 piece, 2 sides

Letter from Walsh de Serrant to Thomas Manning regarding Manning's permission to stay in Paris. Dated 2 fructidor an 11 (20 August 1803) Handwritten 1 piece, 2 sides

Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Paris. He writes "Paris is a place where Luxury abounds and riots uncontrolled" though he himself lives in a retired manner. He has met Mr De Maimieux "a learned man who has invented a new language which he calls Pasigraphie". He also met an English gentleman... who has the confidence of the French Government as he has a civil place in Belgium (no name given). This man introduced him to Maria Cosway, (English painter and Engraver, 11 June 1760 – 5 January 1838)). This man has offered "to introduce me to a man who has travelled to the interior of China and who is acquainted with Chinese manners - a subject that much interests me" This man can also be of service in a literary way. Manning was admitted to the antichambers and saw Bonaparte: "I had an excellent view of him both in his going out and his returning. What a God like countenance he has! his demeanour to the spectators was very affable & unaffected. I have so exalted idea of him as a great man, that when he passed & turned his face to the party where I stood, I had a violent emotion, even to tears". He admits much is said against him and that banishments are taking place. He mentions the carnival which has just finished. Handwritten, 4 sides. Dated Tuesday 18th Ventose (French Republican Calendar) 9 March 1802

Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Paris. He writes about his difficult journey through snow with horses falling and includes a sketch of the situation. This meant he arrived late and so was fatigued. He had walked around Paris that morning and seen the Palais Royal. He prefers Paris to London and reiterates this later in the letter. He writes abut meeting his friend Tuthill (Sir George Leman Tuthill ,1772–1835), his wife (Maria) and child (Laura Maria). The letter is written over 2 days and then re-opened to put in a note about forwarding his mail. He is considered an American by his hosts which is of benefit he states in that they expect him to live frugally. He states his address as No 165, Hotel Beauvalet, Rue de la Jussienne. Handwritten, 4 sides. Dated 8 January 1802

Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Paris. He is preparing to leave France but must visit Madame de Serrant before he returns to England. He suggests meeting his father in Cambridge. He wants to go there to peruse some books such as Du Haldes History of China. He reassures "do not be alarmed - different people have different lots - mine is to wander for a while". He writes about his algebra book wondering whether the 50 copies he sent to Ireland are still in Mr Arthurs' shop in Dublin. He writes about other books; about being unwell and how poor the medical knowledge is in France with people dying of being bled; the weather is very cold so there has been skating on the Seine; that people in Paris are concerned that there might be a war between England and France possibly based on Bonaparte's address to the Legislation in which he alluded to the possibility of a maritime war. Handwritten, 3 sides. Dated 17th Ventose (8th March) 1803

Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Paris. He wonders whether his last letter got to his father as he had written about the assassination attempt. He continues to write about French politics and the suppression of the truth, and how Parisiennes will make up their 'truth' according to their disposition. He will send this letter with Mr Taylor who is returning to England and whom Manning will miss. Taylor has introduced Manning to "Dr Hagar, the Conservator of the Oriental manuscripts at the National Library who is about to publish a Chinese dictionary under the auspices of the French Government. The Dr and I shall probably become intimate, as I am learning the Chinese tongue, & so curious a language is a greater bond of union among men than even Free-masonry". Manning writes that he has been occupied in finishing a mathematical work which he intends to send to Carnot (Lazare Nicolas Marguerite, Comte Carnot 13 May 1753 – 2 August 1823) in manuscript. He is also involved in other analytical investigations. He is been to the countryside around Paris on 2 or 3 excursions and admires Versailles. Handwritten, 4 sides. Dated Tuesday 8th June 1802