When Peter Collinson got Linnaeus’s letter of February 22 [1757] [this letter has not come down to us], he went to the bookseller Andrew Millar [or John Millan] who admitted that he had received a letter from Linnaeus. However, he could not oblige Linnaeus, for Brown [presumably Patrick Browne] had not left any specimens of plants with him to forward, and he had not heard of any either.
Collinson does not think Browne has deceived Linnaeus. Wherever the specimens are, they can be sent to Linnaeus, if Linnaeus tells Collinson how.
George Edwards will soon publish volume 5 of his work about new and rare birds and animals [Collinson refers most certainly to Gleanings of natural history, published in three volumes in 1758, where vol. 3 might also be regarded as vol. 5 to Edwards’s A natural history of uncommon birds].
In his The natural history of Aleppo], Alexander Russell has published some rare birds and fishes that have not been described before, as far as Collinson can see.
John Hill has announced that he will publish Linnaeus’s botanical works in English.
Collinson is glad that Linnaeus is planning a new edition of Systema naturae [Collinson refers to the forthcoming, Systema naturae, 10th edition]. It will please lovers of natural history very much. However, Collinson thinks Linnaeus should take his time, since new discoveries are reported every day.
Collinson had expected that John Ellis’s work [Collinson presumably refers to An essay towards a natural history of the corallines] would please Linnaeus, since it reveals so many wonderful facts.
In Russell’s work, Linnaeus will find much that satisfies him. Ehret has drawn the pictures.
Hans Sloane’s collection has now been deposited in the British Museum in a magnificent building, where all branches of natural knowledge have adequate space. It will soon be opened for the public.
Collinson will return to the other items in Linnaeus’s letter at a later time.
P.S. 1. Collinson reports that his garden is very delightful. Mark Catesby’s Arum beta folio has been in flower since February 7.
P.S. 2.Volume 2 of “Edinburgh Essays” [Collinson refers to Essays and Observations, Physical and Literary, the transactions of The Philosophical Society of Edinburgh] contains a dissertation in Latin by Jane Colden [Collinson refers to Jane Colden’s description of the Gardenia in "The description of a new plant"; it was however not published in Latin], perhaps the only lady that makes profession of Linnaeus’s system. Linnaeus should be very proud of her.
P.S. 3. Collinson asks Linnaeus also to look closely at the bookseller’s name and see if he has given it correctly. Each character is important, and if Linnaeus has written Millar instead of Millan or made a similar mistake, that could help Collinson to find the plant specimens.