The Sloane Letters Project – Sir Hans Sloane’s Correspondence Online (original) (raw)

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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:

Sr Hans, When I was at your house for your advice for ye shortness of breath you were so kind as to encourage me to write to lett you know wt effect ye medicines prescribed had upon me wn I came into ye country upon loosing some blood & following your directions I found benefitt but not a totall freedome from my indispositions I have at times a straitness upon my chest & last night it increased to such a degree yt I was almost suffocated & lay in great misery for want of breath attended with a great wheezing & rattling in my throat; you will be so kind as to prescribe something that you think propper I shall be extremely oblig’d & will take an opportunity of acknowledging ye favour who am Your very much oblige & humble servt W.Ginger.
Read more- Letter 0293

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