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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. 221] Lambeth House March. 27th. 1722 Honoured Sr Although the hints wch you were pleased to send to me by the Favour of your Letter, relating to Selden, were sometime before comunicated to me by Those Booksellers yt had bought Mr. Chiswells Book & Copies, yet I am nevertheless very much obliged to you for Your kindly intended Assistance & Advice in the Prosecution of my Design. The three Gentlemen yt will have the Honour of presenting this Letter to you come from Berlin & Frankfurt & having a great Desire to see your Incomparably great Treasure of Rarities & Antiquities, I come an humble supplicant to you, in their Name: yt you would condescend to appoint ’em your Day & Hour of Leisure, when They might be favoured wth ye Surprizing Sight of your Cabinet. Which undeserved Favour they’le celebrate wherever They go, & in particular shall esteem it as the Highest Mark of Friendship, wth wch you are so generously pleased to embrace Honoured Sr Your most obedient Humble servt. Dd Wilkins.
Read more- Letter 2565


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