Peter Collinson writes that in a previous letter, Linnaeus had asked for the reasons behind some names that John Mitchell had given to new genera, among those the name Elymus. Mitchell had been surprised at the question, since Linnaeus had blamed Johannes Burman for not remembering ancient names, and he refers to Critica botanica, pag. 117. According to Mitchell, Elymus is the name of panicum used by Dioscorides, so Mitchell has used it for a species of wild grain found in Virginia.
In addition, Mitchell had observed that Linnaeus puts Diodia in class 14, while Mitchell says it belongs to class 4.
Collinson thanks Linnaeus for his letter of July 16 of the previous year [this letter has not come down to us]. The letter to Mark Catesby has been delivered to him [this letter has not come down to us], and Collinson forwards thanks for that.
Collinson is glad that Linnaeus has succeeded in raising plants from seeds he had sent him.
Collinson will forward Linnaeus’s compliments to Georg Dionysius Ehret when he sees him.
Collinson is sorry that Morsach has not forwarded the package of seeds. Collinson had believed there were frequent ships between Danzig and Sweden. Collinson advises Linnaeus to write to Morsach or to Dr. Brenyus [Johann Philip Breyne], a friend of Morsach.
Collinson had received Linnaeus requests for books. John Blackstone’s work “fas. plas. circa Harefield” [Collinson refers to Fasciculus plantarum circa Harefield sponte nascentium] was sold before the order arrived, but Collinson sends Linnaeus Paul Hermann’s, Paradisus Batavus. It cost 8 shilling and sixpence.
Collinson had gone to see Sloane a few days earlier and found him well. Delenius [Johann Jacob Dillenius] is still in good health and was in London a few weeks earlier.
Collinson is glad Linnaeus’s works are so near completion. Linnaeus’s industry is admired by everybody.
Collinson asks for the illustrations belonging to Linnaeus’s report of the journey to Öland and Gotland [Collinson refers to Linnaeus’s, Öländska och gothländska resa]. Since Collinson does not understand Swedish, the figures would help him to understand the text better.
Linnaeus’s Flora Lapponica delights Collinson very much, since Linnaeus has mixed a variety of subjects with botany.
P.S. 1.Collinson reports that the American Ginseng has flowered and produced fruits this year, as have several other curious plants.
P.S. 2. Collinson does not send the book alone; he adds some specimens that he hopes will please Linnaeus.
P.S. 3. Collinson had heard from Breyne who wrote that he had forwarded the parcel to Uppsala as soon as he received it [see Breyne to Linnaeus, 30 August 1745{L0644}].