Peter Collinson has written to Linnaeus a month earlier [Collinson to Linnaeus, 25 December 1757{L2271}] to thank him for the gift of Museum S:ae R:ae M:tis Adolphi Friderici Regis.
Collinson has found the bookseller where Patrick Browne left the specimens meant for Linnaeus [Collinson refers to the Jamaican Herbarium collected by Browne, and purchased by Linnaeus]. His name is John Millan. Collinson has inspected them and found them in rather bad order, and they are numerous. Laid on top of each other, they form a pile 18 inches high. However, Linnaeus is skilled in handling this kind of material, so Collinson is confident he will manage.
The handling and postage of the specimens by the reliable man who has them will cost Linnaeus ten guineas, a large sum of money. However, Collinson thinks they are worth it.
P.S. 1. Philip Miller sends Linnaeus his regards and is waiting for a letter.
P.S. 2. The weather is fine and mild.
P. S. 3. If Linnaeus decides that he would like to have the specimens, Collinson has to arrange for the transport. Linnaeus should order somebody to call on Collinson and take care of it. They must be placed in a solid chest to protect them from damage at sea.
P. S. 4. Collinson wants a specimen of Buxbaumia aphylla.
P.S. 5. On January 31, Collinson had received a visitor whom he had tea with. This visitor had brought Linnaeus’s gift of 13 dissertations on many subjects in natural history, which Collinson thanks Linnaeus for. Collinson will be extremely pleased and entertained by studying them.