Carl Magnus Wrangel has approached Linnaeus once since he arrived in America. More than a year ago, he had sent a collection that John Bartram made of all the trees that grow in North America. It was addressed to Her Majesty the Queen [Lovisa Ulrika] and was taken by a ship bound for London, but the ship did not get farther than Portsmouth for lack of an escort. The package was brought back to Wrangel, which had annoyed him very much.
Wrangel introduces to Linnaeus a young American man. His name is Adam Kuhn, and his father [Adam Simon Kuhn] is a doctor and mayor of Lancaster. With Wrangel’s support, Dr Kuhn has decided to let his son study natural history under the best teacher available and then also study medicine. Wrangel has been eager to promote this science on his side of the Atlantic, and he asks Linnaeus to receive the young Kuhn with favour and paternal love. His father wants him to follow Linnaeus’s instructions, and he is willing to pay what is needed. If this plan succeeds, the conditions of natural history in North America will be greatly improved, since the young Kuhn will be helped by his father to pursue these studies after his return.
The young Kuhn will bring with him the collection meant for the Queen, mentioned above, several seeds meant for Linnaeus and some specimens prepared by Bartram. Wrangel’s work as a priest takes so much time that he has almost no time for natural history, but he does what he can to promote it.
Kuhn also brings money sufficient for one year. When that ends, it would be best to give him the sum of 1,200 daler kpmt which is paid from Sweden to a clergyman in North America. Kuhn’s father will pay the clergyman in North America the corresponding sum. If more is needed, it will be sent, but it is important that expense is kept low. The elder Kuhn is well off, but he has more children to raise. This is left to Linnaeus to decide, but the young Kuhn should reach the degree of doctor before he returns.
P.S. 1. Wrangel gives Linnaeus his full address in Philadelphia.
P.S. 2. Wrangel mentions that Bartram is annoyed that Linnaeus has not written to him. Bartram will not send more material before hearing from Linnaeus.