Henric Jacob Hildebrand mentions two Mexican eagles that had frozen to death before there had been an opportunity to properly describe them. He now reports that two new eagles have arrived from Estremadura and that Miguel Barnades and Daniel Scheidenburg have made the necessary descriptions, which are now being sent to Linnaeus.
Hildebrand continues by writing that a few days earlier José Ortega had told him that he had recently received from the West Indies a reliable report concerning Pehr Löfling’s death, which presumably was caused by the exceptionally intense heat at that place.
Hildebrand comments on the special friendship he and his sons [Jacob Henrik Hildebrand and Claes Henrik Hildebrand] have with Linnaeus and thus he feels obliged to inform Linnaeus that he had given them permission to travel out into the world and better themselves to the benefit of their country. They decline all offers of amusement and encourage each other to employ themselves in warfare and adventures. The oldest intends to join the French army at the Rhone and the youngest intends to enlist in the French fleet at Rochefort or Brest.
The countess [Hildebrand’s wife Sophia Lovisa Hildebrand] and their daughter [Florentina Hildebrand] send their greetings, and Hildebrand also forwards his greetings to Linnaeus’s wife [Sara Elisabet Linnaea] and the rest of the family.