[Swift (Jonathan)] A Discourse of the Contests and Dissensions between the Nobles and Commons in Athens and Rome, with the Consequences they had upon both those States, first edition, second (corrected) impression with unbroken rules on title-page, with final blank (small loss to inner-edge, light soiling to verso), title with early ink author attribution and bibliographical note to verso signed "J.G. Wigg", old stab-holes and some water-staining to inner-margin, disbound with some leaves working loose, housed in a modern grey paper folder with title label, [Rothschild 1991; Teerink 478], small 4to, for John Nutt, 1701.

⁂ Written in defence of the Whig Lords, Somers, Orford, Halifax and Portland, who were impeached by the House of Commons in 1701. Swift argues, based on his knowledge of classical history, that impeachment of the Commons marks the beginning of tyranny of the masses. Teerink distinguishes two issues of the first edition, x and w, printed mainly but not entirely from different settings of type; and concludes that w was the later impression, partly reset to meet an unexpected demand.