Thomas Manning was a keen amateur poet and had a lifelong interest in riddles. These are draft poems and riddles mainly created by Manning through his adult life. There are also instances of Manning adopting mirror writing.

Draft of poem beginning "Go lovely Flower, that with thy sister flowers". Unrhymed verse. "To Mrs B., greeting from her [Servant]". Handwritten, 1 piece, 2 sides

Drafts of poems "Old friend winter", Here comes mild May", and "I'm on tenters and hooks for the Packet of Books" in which he addresses Mr Payne to send his books to Dartford promptly. Also copies of these poems in mirror writing. Handwritten 4 pieces, 5 sides

"To Sir Robert Smyth", "What is Love?" "Copy of verses by Thos. Paine for Mr Manning". Handwritten copy of Thomas Paine's poem, "What is Love?" 1 piece, 3 sides

Draft of a poem beginning "There swiftly glide proud vessel to thy port". Second longer draft on the reverse. Handwritten, 1 piece, 2 sides

"Curious billet" label given to a verse in French. Handwritten, 1 piece, 2 sides

For Jonathan Price - poem draft.

Drafts of various poems: The Easter when the sun came out; Where the leaves fall from Hyde Park; Berlin Wall; The Morning and Evening of the Poet; and The finish.

American Rhetoric for Scotland by Anne Stevenson. News-cutting of the Poetry column from Week-end Scotsman, undated.

Herakles and the Old One - draft of a poem by Anne Stevenson.