Peter Collinson thanks Linnaeus for his letter of December 31, 1745{L0663}, and is glad that the seeds he sent were acceptable.
Collinson has prepared another set of seeds, containing seeds from Johann Jacob Dillenius], although Dillenius complains that he does not receive any seeds in exchange from Linnaeus.
Harmanns [Paul Hermann’s], Paradisus Batavus cost 8 shillings,:6 pence.
Georg Dionysius Ehret is sending Linnaeus a coloured print of a new Cerus that flowered at Chelsea [see Linnaeus’s reply to that in Linnaeus to Ehret, 23 August 1747{L0822}].
Isaac Lawson is expected back from Flanders. He had been taken prisoner by French forces but had been set free in an exchange.
Collinson reports that specimens of several American plants are offered for sale, but there are difficulties in getting them on board a ship and arranging for proper care of them during the voyage. Without proper care, they might not be good when you get them.
John Mitchell who lives in Virginia, has made descriptions of several species, but these are not yet published.
Collinson has a true Genseng in his garden, and it produces flowers and seeds.
Collinson will try to remember to talk to Dillenius about saving some seeds of St Timothy’s grass for Linnaeus.
Linnaeus’s letter for Dillenius was forwarded to him [this letter has not come down to us], and Collinson is sure Dillenius has sent Linnaeus an answer [presumably Dillenius to Linnaeus, 21 February 1746{L0688}].
Collinson loves books in natural history and specimens of all natural objects. He asks Linnaeus about shells and fossils found in Sweden. The animals are the same in both countries, except reindeer, but he asks Linnaeus about fishes and insects peculiar to Sweden in general or to Lapland. He wants specimens of them and of minerals.
Collinson has got his first four flowers in plants from Virginia. They are Claytonia, Echium, a pretty Ranunculus with a yellow flower and a Fumaria bulbosa.
P.S. Collinson acknowledges that Abraham Bäck had sent him Systema naturae in an octavo edition [Collinson refers to Systema naturae, 4th edition], which Collinson is very pleased with. He asks if Bäck has returned to Sweden.