Reference code: GB-0298-UC/P22
Title: Manning Letters
Dates of creation: 1836-1907
Extent: 2 files
Held by: Ushaw
Origination: Henry Edward Manning (1808-1892)
Language: English
Henry Edward Manning was born in Totteridge, Hertfordshire, in 1808. He was educated at Harrow and Balliol College, Oxford, before his ordination to the Anglican Ministry in 1832. Rising to the position of archdeacon of Chichester, Manning was
often critical of the Anglican Church which, following the Gorham Judgement, led ultimately to his conversion to Catholicism in 1851. He spent the following three years at the Accademia dei Nobili Ecclesiastici before Cardinal Wiseman appointed him
Inspector of Schools in 1856. In this position, he was responsible for organising a network of elementary schools throughout the archdiocese of Westminster and making provision for Catholic university education. In 1860, Pope Pius IX made him a
prothonotary apostolic and domestic relation following his staunch defence of the temporal power of the papacy.
Following the death of Nicholas Wiseman in 1865, Manning was appointed archbishop of Westminster. In this role, he was particularly active in promoting improved social conditions amongst the Catholics of Ireland, which included encouraging total
abstinence, a better education system, improved labour relations, and social welfare. He was also involved in enhancing the status of the pastoral clergy in the rest of Britain which, although it led him into conflict with the Jesuits and other
religious orders, was a great influence on the papal document
Romanos Pontifices (1881) which sought to regulate relations between the English bishops and their clergy. At the Vatican Council in 1870, Manning faced serious criticism in promoting the decree of papal infallibility
but his continuing defence of papal authority was rewarded five years later when he was raised to the cardinalate. He died on 14 January 1892.
Letters from Henry Edward Manning mainly to Henry W. Wilberforce and his wife, Mary, with some press cuttings. These letters are mostly personal and highlight Manning's anxieties before his conversion to Catholicism, as well as his role in the
Catholic Church, including his appointment as archbishop of Westminster.
Collection brought together by Rev. Michael Sharratt as part of the Old Series of documents in Ushaw College Library
Previous series number OS 1 P
Open for consultation.
Permission to make any published use of material from the collection must be sought in advance from ushaw.library@durham.ac.uk and, where appropriate, from the copyright owner. The Library will assist where possible with identifying copyright
owners, but responsibility for ensuring copyright clearance rests with the user of the material
The letters and other papers follow the original arrangement of the collection which is broadly chronological. The exception to this arrangement is a handful of letters added to the end of the numbering sequence at a later date.
1. Card catalogue with item list
2. Transcripts of letters by Fr William Vincent Smith (UC/P45/1/93/4)
Oxford University: Bodleian Library, Western Manuscripts
Correspondence, notebooks and papers MSS Eng lett b 37, c 651-64, d 526-27; misc c 873-76, d 1278-80, e 1393-99, f 852-53, g 355
1884: correspondence with Sir William Harcourt MSS Harcourt
1867-80: 36 letters to Disraeli MSS Disraeli
West Sussex Record Office
Personal and family papers including letters to Samuel Wilberforce 1834-65 WILBERFORCE Q
19th century: letters to the Otter family Acc 11784
1837-49: 21 letters to the Duke of Richmond NRA 850 Gordon Lennox
Emory University: Pitts Theology Library
1826-91: correspendence and papers MSS 002 see
Catholic Archives, 19 (1999)
Exeter Cathedral Archives
14 letters to Henry Phillpotts ED/11
Northamptonshire Record Office
1881-83: letters among the Elwes family papers NRA 4039 Northamptonshire
St John's Seminary
1843-91: 35 letters
British Library, Manuscript Collections
1874-91: correspondence with Sir Charles Dilke Add MS 43896
1833-91: correspondence with W.E. Gladstone Add MSS 44247-50
1847-92: 41 letters mainly to his brother (photocopies) RP 2824
1875-88: correspondence with Lord Ripon Add MS 43545
c1840-45: sermon notes (copy) RP 1062
National Library of Scotland, Manuscript Collections
MSS 3675-79
St Deiniol's Library
1835-53: letters from W.E. Gladstone (copies) NRA 14174
Westminster Diocesan Archives
1862-89: correspondence with Edward Thompson NRA 27775
1851-65: 58 letters to Wiseman Wiseman Papers
The National Archives
1869-95: letters to Odo Russell FO 918
Wiltshire and Swindon History Centre
1869-92: papers NRA 16303
Correspondence with Sidney and Elizabeth Herbert 2057
Syracuse University Libraries
1838-72: correspondence with J.R. Hope-Scott
Correspondence with Sir John Simeon NRA 24541
National Library of Ireland
1849-90: correspondence with Lord Emly MSS 8317, 19337
Southwark Roman Catholic Diocesan Archives
1845-78: letters to Searle and Dannell NRA 27760
Birmingham Oratory
Letters to John Henry Newman and Lady Herbert of Lea NRA 27809 Newman
Cambridge University: Churchill Archives Centre
1885-91: correspondence with W.T. Stead NRA 32593
St Andrews University Library
1865-91: letters to Wilfrid and Mrs Ward ms38347-38348, ms38469 and ms38508
Lambeth Palace Library
1825-91: letters to Charles Wordsworth MS 1823
1838-50: letters to Christopher Wordsworth MSS 1822, 2141-44
The key works of and about Henry Edward Manning are listed below:
E.S. Purcell,
Life of Cardinal Manning, 2 vols. (1896)
S. Leslie,
Henry Edward Manning: his life and labours (1921)
R. Gray,
Cardinal Manning: a biography (1985)
UC/P22/1 3 April 1839
Letter from Henry Edward Manning to his sister, Mary (wife of Henry W. Wilberforce): a voyage from Naples to Palermo, a description of Palermo.
2f
UC/P22/2 29 July 1844
Letter from Manning to Henry W. Wilberforce: agreeing with the archbishop's charge, his opinion of chanting the psalms.
2f
UC/P22/3 22 December 1844
Letter from Manning to Henry: finishing N[ewman]'s book of sermons, Maurice's pamphlet on the Rev George Gorham.
2f
UC/P22/4 19 October 1845
Letter from Manning to Mary: thanking her for visiting.
2f
UC/P22/5 3 April 1847
Letter from Manning to Henry: the death of Henry's son, his ill health.
4f
UC/P22/6 23 April 1847
Letter from Manning to Henry: condolences on his (Henry's) mother's death.
2f
UC/P22/7 30 April 1847
Letter from Manning to Henry: feeling close to the family, agreeing with Wilberforce on animal magnetism.
3f
UC/P22/8 14 July 1847
Letter from Manning to Mary: his need to confide in her, Henry's current good health.
1f
UC/P22/9 25 April 1848
Letter from Manning to Henry: he will be leaving for home soon, praising the pope's policy, his hopes for future relations between the Protestant and Catholic Church, believes that the Catholic Church is more open to the world at present, the
political excitement in Rome [1848 Revolution], his attendance in the pope's chapel for Holy Week.
Page torn off in accordance with Manning's instructions relating to his present feeling about the Church of England and the Church of Rome.
2f
UC/P22/10 16 September 1848
Letter from Manning to Mary: Elia's health, his visit to Mrs Sargeant.
2f
UC/P22/11 23 September 1848
Letter from Manning to Mary: her son's future.
2f
UC/P22/12 2 October 1848
Letter from Manning to Henry: feeling sad over others' sorrows, his attempt to hide his true feelings, he is still disturbed by his conclusions.
2f
UC/P22/13 31 October 1848
Letter from Manning to Mary: his foreboding that Sophia [Ryder (Manning's sister-in-law, died 1850)] may die.
2f
UC/P22/14 2 November 1848
Letter from Manning to Mary: his anxiety over Sophia.
2f
UC/P22/15 8 November 1848
Letter from Manning to Mary: his reservations about prayers to Our Lady.
2f
UC/P22/16 27 December 1848
Letter from Manning to Mary: feeling very close to Mary and her husband, feeling lonely but hopeful.
2f
UC/P22/17 26 January 1849
Letter from Manning to Mary: his intellectual and personal difficulties, his desire to be close to God whatever the consequences.
2f
UC/P22/18 10 February 1849
Poem by Bishop Samuel Wilberforce entitled
“A Vision”, subsequently published in: A.R. Ashwell,
Life of Samuel Wilberforce (1888), I, p.186-187.
2f
UC/P22/19 24 February 1849
Letter from Manning to Henry and Mary: the health of their son
2f
UC/P22/20 1 March 1849
Letter from Manning to Mary: reflecting on his life, the death of the bishop of Rieti.
2f
UC/P22/21 10 April 1849
Letter from Manning to Mary: declining the offer of being Arthur's confessor.
2f
UC/P22/22 14 July 1849
Letter from Manning to Mary: his opinion that there will soon only be one Church, as well as a description of a sunrise over the sea at Monaco which reminded him of the host at the Benediction in San Luigi dei Francesi at Rome, reflections on his
life as an Anglican, thoughts of Rome's claims and denials.
2f
UC/P22/23 24 July 1849
Letter from Manning to Mary: reflecting on his present state of mind.
2f
UC/P22/24 30 August 1849
Letter from Manning to Henry: arranging for him to visit.
1f
UC/P22/25 14 September 1849
Letter from Manning to Mary: his opinions of Boggio, keeping busy with diocesan work, the need to trust in the Lord.
2f
UC/P22/26 27 September 1849
Letter from Manning to Henry: the “painful” letter of the bishop to Mary, the need for Henry to act out of conviction, his belief that nothing will part them.
1f
UC/P22/27 27 February 1850
Letter from Manning to Mary: his nostalgia for the secure happiness of the past, his desire to know how to proceed.
2f
UC/P22/28 30 March 1850
Letter from Manning to Mary: his thoughts on the anniversary of his wife's anniversary.
2f
UC/P22/29 21 June 1850
Letter from Manning to Mary: sending prayers.
2f
UC/P22/30 25 June 1850
Letter from Manning to Mary: congratulating her on the birth of their child.
1f
UC/P22/31 29 July 1850
Letter from Manning to Mary: the passing of time, lending her his wife's last three letters.
2f
UC/P22/32 23 October 1850
Letter from Manning to Henry: his plans to go to Jerusalem in the winter.
1f
UC/P22/33 15 November 1850
Letter from Manning to Henry: the request of the clergy for a meeting to protest against the restoration of the hierarchy, his moral obligation to convene it and his plans to resign from the archdeaconry as a result, urges Henry to keep his
resignation confidential until he is certain.
2f
UC/P22/34 5 December 1850
Letter from Manning to Henry: his plans to resign from Lavington [rectory], the sale of his house.
1f
UC/P22/35 [1849 x 1850]
Letter from Manning to Henry: urges him not to make a decision while in the Jesuit house or have anything to do with the King William Street Oratory.
1f
UC/P22/36 20 January 1851
Letter from Manning to Henry: money matters and Abel Smith, his stay with his brother, nostalgia for the past.
2f
UC/P22/37 18 September 1851
Letter from Manning to Mary: his visit to Lavington, his belief that more will join the Catholic Church.
2f
UC/P22/38 7 September 1852
Letter from Manning to Mary: his closeness to her, his feelings over his deceased wife [Caroline].
2f
UC/P22/39 16 September 1852
Letter from Manning to Mary: his visit to see her, his meeting with Frank Blomfield.
2f
UC/P22/40 19 December 1852
Letter from Manning to Henry: his feeling that Christmas will bring back memories of the past, questioning why they should be estranged from Mrs Sargeant, his opinion that the Wilberforces don't belong in Ireland, his plans to return from Rome in
four months, news of new converts.
2f
UC/P22/41 30 November 1853
Letter from Manning to Henry: his relief that Harry's fall was not more serious, his opinion that Ushaw College seems a good place to send him, the pope believes that it is his (Manning's) last year in Rome and he will settle in London, his plans
to perform mass in Lavington [church].
2f
UC/P22/42 3 May 1854
Letter from Manning to Henry: Miss Coleridge being received into the Catholic Church, her banishment and need of somewhere to stay, his plans to contact Newman on the matter.
2f
UC/P22/43 4 February 1857
Letter from Manning to Henry: Robert [Wilberforce]'s unexpected and holy death.
2f
UC/P22/44 7 March 1857
Letter from Manning to Henry: long description of Robert's last days.
3f
UC/P22/45 18 May 1857
Letter from Manning to Mary: sending her flowers.
1f
UC/P22/46 14 [May] 1859
Letter from Manning to Mary: cancelling his visit.
1f
UC/P22/47 6 June 1861
Letter from Manning to Mary: saying mass for Mrs Sargent, nostalgia about Lavington.
2f
UC/P22/48 8 July 1861
Letter from Manning to Mary: condolences on the death of Henry's mother and her strong faith.
2f
UC/P22/49 6 August 1851
Letter from Manning to Henry: his opinion that all that survives from Lavington is Catholic.
1f
UC/P22/50 3 November 1863
Letter from Manning to Caroline Wilberforce: announcing the mass time.
1f
UC/P22/51 25 January 1865
Letter from Manning to Henry: how to find a publisher, the difficulty of getting good terms for Catholic books.
2f
UC/P22/52 11 March 1865
Letter from Manning to Henry: his appointment as archbishop of Westminster.
2f
UC/P22/53 24 May 1865
Letter from Manning to Mary: his appointment as archbishop of Westminster, it has been well received.
2f
UC/P22/54 14 February 1867
Letter from Manning to Henry: his financial loss, his attempts to get Henry's manuscript published [
Essays on religion and literature (1867)], he will write a preface.
2f
UC/P22/55 18 September 1868
Letter from Manning to Caroline: he has given Philip the preface.
1f
UC/P22/56 7 September 1870
Letter from Manning to Henry: agreeing to help the Blagdon children, a nomination to a convent, a manuscript on Our Lady.
2f
UC/P22/57 28 July 1873
Letter from Manning to Mary: a lengthy account of the ceremonies at Lavington for Bishop Samuel Wilberforce's funeral.
7f
UC/P22/58 12 [May] 1876
Letter from Manning to Mary: arranging to visit, informing her that he no longer talks about religion to Betay MacKay.
1f
UC/P22/59 11 April 1878
Letter from Manning to Agnes Wilberforce: making arrangements for her visit.
1f
UC/P22/60 20 March 1885
Letter from Manning to Henry: agreeing to arrange a papal blessing for his son's wedding.
1f
UC/P22/61 23 May 1888
Letter from Manning to Henry: his inability to help him because of his (Manning's) financial commitment to charities.
2f
UC/P22/62 [[1850s x 1860s]
Letter from Manning to Mary: offering advice on receiving Holy Communion.
2f
UC/P22/63-69 [?1836]
Letters from Manning to Mary: mostly of a private or trivial nature with an occasional reference to Newman.
7 letters
UC/P22/70 4 March 1849
Envelope of a letter sent by Manning to Mary with manuscript annotation concerning Rev Ingram.
1 item
UC/P22/71 [1850s x 1860s]
Press cutting of a letter complaining about the plans of Lancaster municipal officials to attend a mass delivered by Dr Manning.
1 cutting
UC/P22/72 22 July 1863
Playbill of a performance at Ushaw College.
1 item
UC/P22/73 [January 1892]
Press cutting from a Catholic newspaper [possibly the
Tablet with an obituary of Manning.
1 cutting
UC/P22/74 13 July 1907
Press cutting from
New World concerning Manning's domestic side.
1 cutting
UC/P22/75 18 August 1866
Letter from Manning to James Chadwick: congratulating him on his elevation to the bishopric of Hexham and Newcastle
2f
