Letter from John Dundas (Philip Dundas, Governor of Prince of Wales Island/Penang Island, Malaysia) to Thomas Manning concerning "the mistake of a servant should have given you - either anxiety, or trouble". Dickens is written on the reverse. Dated 5 November 1806

Letter to Thomas Manning from [Lance Ammery] (a different hand suggests this is the Chinese baker at Penang). It seems that Manning has lost money which the writer hopes to regain for him if he can. He asks Manning to give attention to "Atoong & my Son". He is still in the same "predicament" but hopes to see Manning if he makes it to China. Dated 23 June 1807, from Penang. Handwritten 1 piece, 2 sides

Thomas Manning lived in Asia from 1807-1817, mainly in Canton and Macao. But he also tried to reach the interior of China via Tibet. The correspondence covers this period and is of both official and personal nature.

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.