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

Notebook containing notes on Tibetan vocabulary. Also some Latin notes and notes on events and people in China; grammar notes; English lists of words. In the back of the book is a partial journal of his time in Tibet - mostly the beginning of the journey and includes an entry about meeting the Dalai Lama "This day I saluted the Grand Lama!! Beautiful Youth. Face poetically affecting. Could have wept. Very happy to have seen him & his blessed smile. hope often to see him again". Large, half-calf notebook, warped, handwritten in pencil and ink.
Inserted into the notebook:

• Note to and from Thomas Beale concerning whether Beale was expecting the Hoopoo, handwritten, undated
• Vocabulary list 4 sheets of Chinese writing including two copies of a contract between Manning and Gao Hengxin for 1000 yuan, dated 20 January 1815
• "Recipe for [Hang yummtoy] or Almond Syrup", Letter from Sian Seng.

Chinese notebook, small, green cloth covered. Contains notes on Chinese grammar and language with comparisons with English language; comments on the use of Greek in Homer's Iliad. Back cover has pencil sketch of [Tibetan/Chinese house]. Loose sheets include 2 drafts of a love poem dated 15 October 1812; some Latin sentences; title "Notes on Lassa" with mathematical calculations on reverse.

Chinese notebook, small, green cloth covered, including original pencil. Contains Chinese vocabularies; 2 sketches of Dalai Lama; shopping lists and memos; medical notes; list of English words beginning 'ab'; diary notes on leaving Lhasa; notes on literature - French, Greek, etc.; mathematical problems. Inserted are loose sheets of paper - more diary notes; numerical list.