Linnaeus’s letters have always been very dear to Thomas Pennant, but the last one [Linnaeus to Pennant, 16 November {L2111} or 3 December 1756{L2125}] was especially welcome. He thanks Linnaeus for his benevolence towards him.
Pennant considers himself lucky to have found something new in natural history. But he is even more lucky to have found Linnaeus, the foremost of philosophers, to promulgate his discovery. Pennant therefore gives a new description of his new Concha.
The Concha was so dried that he could not draw it properly. However, illustration no. 5 shows the result.
Pennant found the Concha at the lowest part of a marine plant that he recently received from the North Sea. The plant was a gift from Erik Pontoppidan. Pennant encloses a branch so that Linnaeus can show it to fishermen or other people who collect marine plants. The plant is depicted in the work on the natural history of Norway [The Natural history of Norway], p. 152, fig. 3. Pennant wants to know the name of the plant.
Pennant has another petrified Concha that is similar to the one just described; it was collected on the Isle of Sheppey, p. 281 in the manuscript of his list.
Pennant wishes Linnaeus a happy journey to Falun. When Linnaeus sends the list of his gifts, he should use the same names as in Systema naturae, 9th edition which Pennant received the previous month from a bookseller, i.e. the edition of 1756. Pennant has not been able to obtain Fauna Svecica.
Pennant eagerly awaits the spring, when he can receive Linnaeus’s collection. He asks Linnaeus to send the name of the ship and its captain so that he can ask the box from a merchant in London.