visit: royalasiaticsociety.org

TM/1/1/45-Letter from Thomas Manning, Canton, 24 February 1808


Letter from Thomas Manning to William Manning from Canton. He writes that he lives in a most advantageous insulated condition but is making some progress in the languages and has learnt some things only obscurely or not known at all by Europeans. He writes of his time in Macao where they go each summer and he can converse with the French and with English. He is glad he is fluent in French. There are some pleasant English women. It has been discovered that he can sing by notes and therefore has been pressed to take part in concerts. He has sent his luggage to the river ready to embark to go to Cochinchina. Handwritten, 1 piece, 3 sides. Dated 26 February 1808