Linnaeus congratulates Nicolaus Joseph von Jacquin on the completion of the work on American plants [Linnaeus refers to Selectarum stirpium Americanarum historia], now that he has seen the last proof pages and illustrations. He asks for a copy of the finalized work as soon as possible, in order to be able to use it for the appendix of Species plantarum , which he expects will be ready around Easter.
Linnaeus has not yet sent part 1 of Species plantarum to Copenhagen but will do so as soon as possible.
Linnaeus says that Jacquin has not understood his thinking on the development of new species. However, Linnaeus does not want to press the issue but mentions Jacquin’s Androsace as an example of what he means.
Linnaeus was very surprised to read what Jacquin had written concerning the old botanical author [Linnaeus means Dioscorides] with figures and Greek names [Linnaeus refers to the “Codex Vindobonensis”]. He wonders how he can get hold of it.
Linnaeus urges Jacquin to stay away from the Alps. He should not expose Botany to such a risk!
A few more botanical details are treated, among them a question if there are two holes in the anthers of Aquartia.
Linnaeus stresses his great interest in seeing Jacquin’s work, since he needs to see Jacquin’s characters of American plants based on live specimens for a new edition of Genera plantarum [Linnaeus refers to Genera plantarum [...] editio sexta], which he plans to start working on when the new edition of Species plantarum, is ready. After that, he wants to make new editions of the zoological and mineralogical parts of Systema naturae [the next edition was Systema naturae] before he gets too old to do anything. He wants Jacquin to send the book through the Swedish diplomats and not via Laurens Theodor Gronovius.
In an appendix, Linnaeus asks for the character texts of a number of species, since he does not dare to proceed without them in the work he is busy with just now. And he again reminds Jacquin that he must have the material by Easter, since he is forced to begin his work at the new edition of Genera [Linnaeus means Genera plantarum] by then.
Linnaeus gives a short description of Quassia and answers the question on Aristolochia. – The letter ends with his thanks to Jacquin for a very recent delivery of pictures.