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.  The proclamation pleased neither of the belligerent nations in Europe.  It aroused the enmity of both; and laid open our commerce to the depredations of all parties, on the plea that the American government was inimical to their interests.

While in the practice of law in Boston, Mr. Adams was not well satisfied with his condition or prospects.  That he was laudably ambitious to arise to distinction in some honorable line is quite certain.  But, singular as it may appear at this day, in view of his early life, and his acknowledged talents, he was not looking for, nor expecting, political preferment.  These facts appear in the following passages from his diary, written at that time; and which, moreover, will be found to contain certain rules of action for life, which the young men of our country should studiously seek to imitate.

“Wednesday, May 16th, 1792.  I am not satisfied with the manner in which I employ my time.  It is calculated to keep me forever fixed in that state of useless and disgraceful insignificancy, which has been my lot for some years past.  At an age bearing close upon twenty-five, when many of the characters who were born for the benefit of their fellow-creatures have rendered themselves conspicuous among their cotemporaries, and founded a reputation upon which their memory remains, and will continue to the latest posterity—­at that period, I still find myself as obscure, as unknown to the world, as the most indolent, or the most stupid of human beings.  In the walks of active life I have done nothing.  Fortune, indeed, who claims to herself a large proportion of the merit which exhibits to public view the talents of professional men, at an early period of their lives, has not hitherto been peculiarly indulgent to me.  But if to my own