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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. 90] Stockholm 17th Nov. 1725. O.S. Sir I have taken the opportunity of a Ship’s sailing for England (which probably may be the last for this season) to send you a wooden Box containing part of the Books you desired, not having been able to meet with all. The Ship’s Name is The Dicky of Ramsgate, Robert Friend Master, who set sail on the 11th instant. I had every thing ready but was advertised so late, that the Master in the hurry forgot to give me a Receipt. However as Mss’rs Grainger and Wordsworth took care to get the Box directed to you and put on board with other goods of their own, I do not doubt but it will be safely delivered. I added to the Books you desired, a Folio of Peringskiold’s, relating to the Genealogies of the Swedish King, published, as I believe, since his death, which as it serves for an Explanation of the large Genealogy in Print which you ordered me to buy, I hope you will approve of my exceeding your Commission so far. You will find in the same Box a Parcel sealed up by Dr Benzelius, who is at present in Town and presents his respects to you. These which I bought I got washed in glue water, as is usual in these Countries by reason of the bad Paper, and also stitched: which expense I hope you will likewise allow, the rather because the Prints seem’d to require it. As Dr Benzelius cannot tell me yet what he laid out for his Parcel, I must deferr sending the accompt till another time. Some weeks ago I sent a Packet recommended to me by Dr Benzelius from Upsal, by Mr Spear the King’s Messenger, to Hanover, from whence he promised to get it forwarded to you to London. One of the enclosed is a Memorandum, which Colonel Bassewith the King’s Minister here [fol. 91] for the affairs of his Majesty’s Electorate, desired me to transmit to some learned Antiquary in England. I take the liberty to recommend the Resolution of his Querries to you. He is a Gentleman well versed in the Antiquities of this Country, a great friend of Dr Benzelius, and may be serviceable in his turn on the like occasion. By the next Messenger I shall send Trimestre 11’dum Actorum Upsaliensium 1725. At present I conclude with my most ardent wishes for your health and welfare, and the assurances of my being with the greatest respects and gratitude Sir Your most humble and most obedient servant P.H. Zollman
Read more- Letter 3220


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