They were read by Washington, with expressions of the highest satisfaction; and he made particular inquiries respecting the author.
The position of Mr.Adams on neutrality was new, and in opposition to the opinions of the great mass of the country.

To him, it is believed, belongs the honor of first publicly advocating this line of policy, which afterwards became a settled principle of the American government.
Non-interference with foreign affairs is a principle to which the Union has rigidly adhered to the present hour.

In these articles too, Mr.Adams developed the political creed which governed him through life in regard to two great principles--union at home and independence of all foreign alliances or entanglements--independence not only politically, but in manufactures and in commerce.
On the 25th of April, 1793, Washington issued a proclamation, announcing the neutrality of the United States between the belligerent nations of Europe.

This proclamation was not issued until after Mr.Adams's articles urging this course had been before the public for some time.

It is an honorable testimony to the sagacity of his views, that Washington, and the eminent men composing his cabinet, adopted a policy which coincided so perfectly with opinions he had formed purely from the strength of his own convictions.