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. 129] Paris Wednesday June the 8th NS. 1729 Dear Sir Hans, I dont doubt but you have heard before now of the death of my poor child Louisa & of my Wifes miscarrying, which proceeded meerly from the grief of that poor Childs long ilness & death but however I have some comfort in my wifes recovery, for she is as well as is possible, for one that has been in her condition; Doctor Chirack, Doctor Lidderdale, Monsieur Seyrat that mad [sic] midwife & surgeon, & Monsr Petit, the surgeon, all attended the opening of the Child, & when they have drawn up their opinion, they will all sign it, & I hope to send you a copy of it next post. Now sir I must thank you for the honor you have done to my freind Monsieur Dufary; & do assure you at the same time you could not confer it on a more deserving person, both as to Learning & merit in general. Enclosed is a letter from him. the Dutchess of Richmond, desires her service to you; wee are all very impatient to see My Lord & Lady Cadogan I am Dear sir, Your most faithfull humble servant, Richmond
Read more- Letter 3620
Latest Statistics
| Pages digitised | |
| 4,545 | Document summaries |
| Documents transcribed | |
| People | |
| 1,527 | Medical Cases |
| Places |