Peter Collinson thanks Linnaeus for his letters of August 10 and October 17, 1755 [these letters have not come down to us].
John Martyn is in good health and has published a summary of the transactions of the Royal Society up to 1753 [Collinson refers to the Philosophical transactions. Abridged, which Martyn published together with John Eames and the Philosophical transactions. Abridged[1756].
Georg Dionysius Ehret is very busy teaching the noble ladies to paint flowers and has only had time to paint the Beveria, in France called Butneria. It is a nice little shrub which grows in the open air and flowers abundantly.
Philip Miller has reached no. 14 of his project [presumably Figures of the most beautiful, useful, and uncommon plants]. John Hill is publishing a history of plants [Collinson refers to The British herbal : an history of plants and trees], and Collinson is sending Linnaeus a specimen. He criticises Linnaeus’s method, but unlike the foul-mouthed Germans, he treats Linnaeus like an English gentleman, with decency. Although the English do not agree with Linnaeus in all points, they honour him for his work at increasing knowledge.
Rubus arcticus is flowering with Collinson, but it grows slowly, so Collinson asks Linnaeus how to make it grow faster.
Patrick Browne has published his “History of Jamaica” [Collinson refers to The Civil and natural history of Jamaica], with plates drawn by Ehret, and Alexander Russell has published a work on the natural history of the country around Aleppo, also with plates by Ehret [Collinson refers to The natural history of Aleppo]. The latter work is in large quarto and costs 1 pound 17 shillings.
Collinson has heard that Somnus plantarum has appeared. He has observed these plants for many years.
Collinson wonders what progress Pehr Kalm is making with his report on North America, and how many volumes have been published [Collinson refers to En resa til Norra America, which was published with three volumes, the last one in 1761; the English translation was not published until 1770-1771, Travels into North America].
Collinson has heard from Cadwallader Colden, who is well. Collinson thinks it is marvellous that Colden’s daughter [Jane Colden] has studied and understood Linnaeus’s system; she is the first woman who has managed that, and Collinson thinks she deserves to be celebrated.
John Bartram is also well. His son [William Bartram is a good painter of plants, likely to become as good as Ehret.
Linnaeus should remember that Collinson is mainly a merchant with many interests in business, so he must have a pupil of Linnaeus’s to help him if he is to publish a description of his garden. As it is, he has it for his private use.
Collinson wishes Linnaeus will live happy as he has the love of mankind and can rely on Collinson as a sincere friend.