Hans Sloane wrote Letter L-396 to Leeuwenhoek to express the thanks of the Royal Society for the bequest of 26 magnifying glasses and as a cover letter for Letter L-395 from John Somers
Text of the letter in Alle de Brieven / The Collected Letters at the DBNL - De Digitale Bibliotheek voor de Nederlandse Letteren.
The date is New Style, which was eleven days ahead of the Old Style date of 7 November 1701 used by Sloane in London.
Sloane wrote to express the thanks of the whole Royal Society for the bequest of 26 magnifying glasses. He mentioned a separate letter of thanks from the president of the Royal Society, John Somers.
According to the Journal Book Original (vol. 10, p. 228), Sloane read a draft of the letter at the meeting of the Royal Society of 1701-10-22, O.S.
Leeuwenhoek describes this letter in his reponse, Letter L-### of ###
I have duly received your very welcome letter of the 7th of last month, and saw from it that the Royal Society was pleased with my doings and plans; and you further refer to the enclosed letter written to me by his Lordship Somers, which letter also contains nothing but extraordinary (but undeserved) civilities and gratitude. I remain greatly obliged to you as well as to the entire Royal Society.
The original manuscript has been lost. A rough draft is London's British Museum, Sloane MS, No. 4068, fol. 32v. It is the one printed in Alle de Brieven / Collected Letters and below.
I acquainted you in my last that so soon as the Royall Society were reassembled I would lay before them Yo.r letter of the of the 2d of Aug last which I accordingly did. The society are extreamely sensible of all Yo.r favours & more especially of this last of Yo.r intended legacy they desire their President my Lord Sommers to return you their thanks for all Yo.r favours in a most particular manner which he has done by the enclosed letter. The society would not have troubled a person of his Qualities had not they desired very heartily to show you the respect they bear you. I am
Yo.r most obedt. & most humble serv.t
Hans Sloane
