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Welcome to The Sloane Letters Project

sloaneA pilot of this project, Sir Hans Sloane’s Correspondence Online, was first launched at the University of Saskatchewan in 2010 to coincide with the 350th anniversary of Sir Hans Sloane’s birth. The project was renamed The Sloane Letters Project when it moved to this site in 2016.

The correspondence of Sir Hans Sloane (1660-1753) consists of thirty-eight volumes held at the British Library, London: MSS 4036-4069, 4075-4078.  The letters are a rich source of information about topics such as scientific discourse, collections of antiquities, curiosities and books, patients’ illnesses, medical treatments and family history. Most of the letters were addressed to Sloane, but a few volumes were addressed to others (MSS 4063-4067) or written by Sloane (MSS 4068-4069).

So far, we have entered descriptions and metadata for Sloane MSS 4036-4053 and 4075, as well as several letters from each of the following: Sloane MSS 4054-4055, 4066, 4068-4069 and 4076. Several of these entries also include transcriptions. Further entries and transcriptions are being made available gradually.

Please, explore the website and database. You can search through the letters, learn about Sir Hans Sloane or the letters written to him, and peruse blog posts about interesting letters!

Random Letter

Author:
Recipient:

[fol. 237] Dear S’r I wrote to Mr Petiver ten days agoe, & desired he woud acquaint you that I have drawn of 5 gallons of Oleum Sinapews sine Igue, & that I expect great matters from it, in Cough Dropsye Stone &c. but I should be very glad of y’r opinion in that affair I cook’d some sellery with it & vinegar & eat it good heartily & think it tasted onely like a good oil & mustard. If you are not acquainted with y’e looks & tast, you shall have a bottle sent you, & if you can find out any other specific Virtue I question not but I coud furnish the Town with it at present as cheap as oleum Lini sine igue. As concerning the Coins found in our parts I have procured specimens wch I design to bring with me for you in a short time, tho’ they are not at all uncomon. I wonder Mr Petiver has not Answered my last, I am Dear S’r y’r most Obliged humble serv’t RMMassey Wisbech No. 3. 1716 I am told you have removed to Chelsey so that I am uncertain whether this will find you out, pray give me directions if this shoud by chance come to y’r hands
Read more- Letter 2121


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