Reports that at the next meeting of the Academy a prize for botany will be proposed for the best answer, if Adanson approves, on the question “L’ordre naturel existe-t-il dans les plantes? Quelles sont les preuves de son existence, et les principes qui lui servent de base? Quelle seroit l’utilité de sa découverte.” An explanation should be added as to what is meant by ordre naturel, and by its differences from the artificial méthodes, and that there be included a concise survey of other authors’ opinions on the subject, with a note on what the Academy wants. This question may be useful to keep persons working on the natural order who are beginning to revert to artificial “méthodes.” Says that he has written today to Duhamel and Fougeroux to invite their approval of this proposal, noting that M. Guettard is absent, that M. de Lamarck approves, and that M. Brisson is thought to approve also. If Adanson has another more interesting proposal, he is asked to send it to his “confrères,” then “Dejussieu altera sa décision” (de Jussieu will alter his decision) [both AD 201 and AD 202 are unsigned and written in the third person]. Annotated: “Repondu le vendredi 5 9bre [Nov.] 1779 à M. de Jussieu qui avoit ecrit ceci chez moi le jeudi 4. soir.” plus his subject heading. Accompanied with a two-page draft of his reply, dated 5 9bre [Nov.] 1779. In this Adanson writes that the Academy cannot propose this question without making itself ridiculous for three reasons: (1) the metaphysical ideas on the ordre naturel are not yet sufficiently clear, (2) the number of connaissances on the plants is not yet sufficient, and (3) finally the necessary proofs to support this natural order demand not an academic memoir but a large number of volumes. Adanson believes the Academy will have more honor if it will propose a question on the useful part of botany, such as economics, agriculture, or horticulture, and will refer de Jussieu to what will be proposed by his colleagues Duhamel, Guettard, Tillet, Fougeroux, Lemonnier.