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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:

Bath Sept: 17 :1692

I thank you for the favore in writing me and enjoy the sight of your hand, while I am at this distance from yor person, & though the newes of the Duchess her marriage was very surprising to me (lost ) it must have been knowne at one time or another & I thank you for it, I think I may (mly) say the newes of it so shook me, that it put me into a fit of the stones that kind that it I came to the bath til now, for I fell into it in the very house I () yours avoided a stone yesterday, you raisin & wonder at this, when at once I have left a Mistriss & in all probabillity a patient, for her Grace once said if ever she marryes again I should be the man; I wish it proove to her advantage, I hear by a letter this day I had it as given and that the Earle & Duchess are so dear in enjoyments that they have given and they will neither [] nor make any visits as yet, & that I believe may be (th), for if her Grace be in the condition I left her I am sure she is fit for neither in the opinion of

your much obliged  & humble servant Mich: Pearce

Pray present my humble service to [] Dr Barwick & his Lady, & the two Mrs Wrights if with you
Read more- Letter 3962

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