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.

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

"J. Hudson, Tobacconist to the Royal Family" - small printed advertisement with riddle. On reverse, Manning has written "Mr Hudson's Conundrum" and "Snuff conundrum". Undated, printed and handwritten. (Joseph Hudson (1778-1854) was a tobacconist to the British royal family. He ran a cigar divan in Oxford Street, London.)

Exercise book containing riddles. The riddles are numbered but not consecutively. The final page has a list of anagrams. Undated. Handwritten, marbled paper cover

Two pieces of papers created into envelopes to contain clues. Labelled 2 & 3 they have messages to direct the person opening them. Undated, handwritten, 2 pieces, 2 sides

Drafts of a riddle in French "Charade sur le mot mair, Par une Dame Russe", Undated, handwritten, 2 pieces, 2 sides

A set of ten riddles on slips of paper, numbered 1 -10. Undated, handwritten, 10 pieces, 10 sides