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TM/09/08/ : Poetry and Riddles


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.

TM/9/8/01-Exercise book containing riddles

Exercise book containing riddles. The riddles are numbered but not consecutively. The final page has a list of anagrams. Undated….


TM/9/8/02-A set of ten riddles

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


TM/9/8/03-Drafts of a riddle in French

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


TM/9/8/04-“Riddle. In most rhetorical debate…”

“Riddle. In most rhetorical debate…” Undated, handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/05-“J. Hudson, Tobacconist to the Royal Family” – small printed advertisement with riddle.

“J. Hudson, Tobacconist to the Royal Family” – small printed advertisement with riddle. On reverse, manning has written “Mr Hudson’s…


TM/9/8/06-Two pieces of papers created into envelopes to contain clues

Two pieces of papers created into envelopes to contain clues. Labelled 2 & 3 they have messages to direct the…


TM/9/8/07-Four versions of text – possibly translations texts, or creative writing, or notes, Labelled A – U, V, Y they seem to be play on words MISSING

Four versions of text – possibly translations texts, or creative writing, or notes, Labelled A – U, V, Y they…


TM/9/8/07/1-Version of text on large sheets of paper – 4 double sheet and one single

Version of text on large sheets of paper – 4 double sheet and one single


TM/9/8/07/2-Neat version on foolscap paper

Neat version on foolscap paper. Handwritten, 3 pieces, 12 sides


TM/9/8/07/3-Partial version, handwritten, 1 piece, 4 sides

Partial version, handwritten, 1 piece, 4 sides


TM/9/8/07/4-Partial version made into small booklet

Partial version made into small booklet . Handwritten, 8 written sides with blank cover. Fragile


TM/9/8/08-“Extract of a Narrative affecting the Death of Mr Thomas Manning, Norfolk”

“Extract of a Narrative affecting the Death of Mr Thomas Manning, Norfolk”. Fictional account of Manning’s death as a youth….


TM/9/8/10-16 Epigrams on the state of the “Bogs” (toilets) at Caius, Cambridge

16 Epigrams on the state of the “Bogs” (toilets) at Caius, Cambridge. Undated [1799] Handwritten, 5 pieces, 5 sides


TM/9/8/14-Draft of poem beginning “Go lovely Flower, that with thy sister flowers”

Draft of poem beginning “Go lovely Flower, that with thy sister flowers”. Unrhymed verse. “To Mrs B., greeting from her…


TM/9/8/15-Draft of poem “address to the […der] Pereira asking for the vessel to safely transport a “Jewel of too rich a sort/to linger here unknown”

Draft of poem “address to the […der] Pereira asking for the vessel to safely transport a “Jewel of too rich…


TM/9/8/16-Neat version of a poem “After the Stone was Laid”

Neat version of a poem “After the Stone was Laid” concerning the blessing of a foundation stone. Mentions Queen Victoria…


TM/9/8/17-Drafts of poems “Old friend winter”, Here comes mild May”,

Drafts of poems “Old friend winter”, Here comes mild May”, and “I’m on tenters and hooks for the Packet of…


TM/9/8/18-Draft of a poem to Miss Hoare

Draft of a poem to Miss Hoare by “ignote” (unknown) Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/19-“Ulysses and the Syren By S. Daniel born in 1579”

“Ulysses and the Syren By S. Daniel born in 1579” Copy of poem/script of Ulysses and the Syren. Handwritten, 1…


TM/9/8/20-“To Sir Robert Smyth”, “What is Love?” “Copy of verses by Thos

“To Sir Robert Smyth”, “What is Love?” “Copy of verses by Thos. Paine for Mr Manning”. Handwritten copy of Thomas…


TM/9/8/21-“On a Kiss”

“On a Kiss”. Newspaper Cutting of the poem. Printed material, 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/22-“From the Irish of “Vurneen Declish Val Ma Chree”

“From the Irish of “Vurneen Declish Val Ma Chree”. A literal translation of the poem by Amintor. Newspaper Cutting, 1…


TM/9/8/23-Sentences which explore the different uses of words such as contrary, about, according to, above, at, before

Sentences which explore the different uses of words such as contrary, about, according to, above, at, before. Handwritten, 2 pieces,…


TM/9/8/24-Draft of the poem “Green was the growth of the Heidelberg Tunnel”

Draft of the poem “Green was the growth of the Heidelberg Tunnel”. Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/25-“Scraps of English with a Literal Latin translation”, Manning has written English phrases and given them a Latin “translation” seemingly based on phonetics rather than accurate meaning

“Scraps of English with a Literal Latin translation”, Manning has written English phrases and given them a Latin “translation” seemingly…


TM/9/8/26-Draft of a poem or just lines ending in rhyme beginning “(When I) I was the [ ] (opening ) morn”

Draft of a poem or just lines ending in rhyme beginning “(When I) I was the [ ] (opening )…


TM/9/8/27-Draft of a poem beginning “Some have praised emmetts and some have praised bees/ & Lievenhook wrote a whole treatise on fleas”

Draft of a poem beginning “Some have praised emmetts and some have praised bees/ & Lievenhook wrote a whole treatise…


TM/9/8/28-Sheet of draft poems, possibly nonsense rhymes

Sheet of draft poems, possibly nonsense rhymes. Also some Latin script possibly connected to the printed header. Handwritten, 1 piece,…


TM/9/8/29-Drafts of verses

Drafts of verses. On reverse is printed frontispiece for “A Commentary on the Book of Job in which is inserted…


TM/9/8/30-Draft of a poem beginning “By lovely feature graceful form of mind”

Draft of a poem beginning “By lovely feature graceful form of mind”. Dated October 26. Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/31-Draft of a poem beginning “There swiftly glide proud vessel to thy port”

Draft of a poem beginning “There swiftly glide proud vessel to thy port”. Second longer draft on the reverse. Handwritten,…


TM/9/8/32-Draft of a poem beginning “[Dreams] of Fr haunt my [Slumbers]”

Draft of a poem beginning “[Dreams] of Fr haunt my [Slumbers]” Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/33-Draft of a poem beginning “The stream that’s shivered by this evening breeze”

Draft of a poem beginning “The stream that’s shivered by this evening breeze”. Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/34-Draft of a poem beginning “When hard indifference meets my [Eye]”

Draft of a poem beginning “When hard indifference meets my [Eye]” Handwritten, 1 piece,1 side


TM/9/8/35-“Curious billet” label given to a verse in French

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


TM/9/8/36-Numbered draft verses/sayings

Sheets of numbered draft verses/sayings. Handwritten, 3 pieces, 3 sides


TM/9/8/37-Draft of a poem beginning “[Let] him learn – [prinpolarsion pass]

Draft of a poem beginning “[Let] him learn – [prinpolarsion pass]. Handwritten I piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/38-Draft of a poem beginning “Quito sigmarila voluto studiare L’Italiano comme”

Draft of a poem beginning “Quito sigmarila voluto studiare L’Italiano comme” Handwritten in Italian, 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/39-“Ranz des Vaches” A poem/song written in French about friends and family

“Ranz des Vaches” A poem/song written in French about friends and family. Ranz des Vaches was a folk tune for…


TM/9/8/40-Drafts of verses

Drafts of verses. On reverse is written “Supposed album Verses at Harrogate”. Handwritten, 1 piece, 2 sides


TM/9/8/41-Draft of poem beginning “Underrated by my fellow…”

Draft of poem beginning “Underrated by my fellow…”. Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/42-Draft of a poem beginning “Times themselves glide…”

Draft of a poem beginning “Times themselves glide…” Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/43-“Extrait de la Menerve Francaise Mac (Macao) 1819” Passage in French about the French army

“Extrait de la Menerve Francaise Mac (Macao) 1819” Passage in French about the French army. Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/44-Nonsense verses written in mirror writing

Nonsense verses written in mirror writing. Handwritten, 1 piece, 2 sides


TM/9/8/45-“Verses so I [conclude] by T.M.”

“Verses so I [conclude] by T.M.” No verses with this title. Handwritten 1 piece, 1 side


TM/9/8/46-Musical notation connecting notes and sound

Musical notation connecting notes and sound. Handwritten, 1 piece, 1 side