Welcome to The Sloane Letters Project
A 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. 69] When your kind and obliging letter came to my hand. I was sick in bed of a fever which continued with me for some time, but being now through the blessing of God pretty well recovered, I was not willing any longer to omitt returning you my most humble thanks for all the kindnesses I have received from you, and especially for the great respect you have now shewen to the memory of my dear Husband and I would willingly have done the same to my Lady Child and Madm Howland but not knowing where to direct to them I entreat the favour of you to present my humble thanks, as likewise to my Lord of London and the rest of the contributors, though unknown to me; As to the remaining Money which you mention if you please to pay it to the Reverend Mr Wm Stonesreet it will come safe to the hands of Sr Your most obliged humble Servant Margaret Ray Black Notley Nov ye 1709
Read more- Letter 1642
Latest Statistics
| Pages digitised | |
| 4,545 | Document summaries |
| Documents transcribed | |
| People | |
| 1,527 | Medical Cases |
| Places |