Casimiro Gomez de Ortega tells Linnaeus that he is doubtless familiar with the fact that he, as a young man, was sent by an admirer of Linnaeus, the founder of the Botanical Garden of Madrid, to Italy to study for Gaetano Monti [Ortega means Giuseppe Monti] and Ferdinando Bassi. Ortega’s uncle [José Ortega], had hoped that Ortega would return to Madrid when he was still alive and succeed one of the professors of the Botanical Garden. However, Ortega’s uncle died before Ortega became doctor of medicine. Ortega then returned and found that everything had changed for the worse. When José Quer y Martinez died in 1764, Linnaeus recommended Ortega to Jeronimo, marquis of Grimaldi, who is now a minister. Linnaeus recommendation had the weight it deserved. However, people envious of Ortega persuaded the King [Carlos III de Borbón] to refer the professorship to a public competition. The outcome of this competition was that Miguel Barnades was suggested. However, the King remembered Ortega’s merits and ordered Ortega to succeed the dead professor for the time being. Unfortunately, Juan Minuart has also died. Ortega entreats Linnaeus to recommend him to Grimaldi and the physician-in-ordinary Mucius Zona. Mucius was born and educated in Naples.
Ortega is ashamed to have to ask these favours of Linnaeus. Ortega suggests Linnaeus writes to Daniel Scheidenburg to inquire whether there is anybody more proper than Ortega to become professor of botany. If there should be such a man, Linnaeus is free to recommend him instead.
Ortega sends Linnaeus twenty-four seeds. He will also send a catalogue of the Garden that he has written. He sends his regards to Linnaeus’s son [Carl Linnaeus the Younger].