forced after fome time to leave the Athenians to their own measures, upon account of their feditious Temper, which ever continu'd with them till the final Diffolution of their Government by the Romans. It feems, the Country about Attica was the most Barren of any in Greece; through which means it happened that the Natives were never expelled by the Fury of Invaders, (who thought it not worth a Conqueft) but continued always Aborigines; and therefore retained through all Revolutions a tincture of that turbulent Spirit wherewith their Government began. This Inftitution of Thefeus appears to have been rather a fort of mixt Monarchy than a popular State, and for ought we know, might continue fo during the Series of Kings till the Death of Codrus. From this laft Prince, Solon was faid to be defcended; who finding the People engaged in two violent Factions, of the Poor and the Rich, and in great confufions thereupon; refufing the Monarchy which was offered him, chose rather to caft the Government after another Model, wherein he made

due

due provifion for fettling the Balance of Power, chufing a Senate of 400, and difpofing the Magiftracies and Offices according to Mens Eftates; leaving to the Multitude their Votes in Electing, and the Power of judging certain Proceffes by Appeal. This Council of 400 was chofen, 100 put of each Tribe, and feems to have been a Body Reprefentative of the People; tho the People collective referved a fhare of Power to themselves. It is a Point of History perplexed enough; but thus much is certain, that the Balance of Power was provided for; elle Pyfiftratus, (called by Authors the Tyrant of Athens) could never have govern'd fo peaceably as he did, *without changing any of Solon's Laws.* Heredet. Thefe feveral Powers, together with lib. 1. that of the Archon, or Chief MagiAtrate, made up the Form of Government in Athens, at what time it began to appear upon the Scene of Action and Story.

THE first great Man bread up under this Inftitution was Miltiades, who lived about Ninety Years after Solon, and

C 3

and is reckon'd to have been the first great Captain not only of Athens, but of all Greece. From the time of Miltiades to that of Phocion, who is look'd upon as the laft famous General of Athens, are about 130 years; After which they were fubdued and infulted by Alexander's Captains, and continued under feveral Revolutions a small truckling State of no Name or Reputation, till they fell with the rest of Greece under the Power of the Ro

mans.

DURING this Period from Miltiades to Phocion, I shall trace the Conduct of the Athenians, with relation to their Diffentions between the People and fome of their Generals; who at that time by their Power and Credit in the Army, in a Warlike Commonwealth, and often fupported by each other, were with the Magiftrates and other Civil Officers, a fort of Counterpoife to the Power of the People, who fince the Death of Solon had already made great Encroachments. What these Diffentions were, how founded, and what the Confequences

of

of them, I fhall briefly and impartially Relate.

I must here premife, that the Nobles in Athens being not at this time a Corporate Affembly that I can gather; therefore the Refentments of the Commons were usually turned against particular Perfons, and by way of Articles or Impeachment. Whereas, the Commons in Rome, and fome other States, (as will appear in proper Place) tho' they followed this Method upon occafion, yet generally pursued the Enlargement of their Power, by more fet Quarrels of one entire Affembly against another. However, the Coftom of particular Impeachments being not limited to former Ages, any more than that of general Struggles and Dif fentions betwixt fix'd Affemblies of Nobles and Commons; And the Ruin of Greece having been owing to the former, as that of Rome was to the latter; I fhall treat on both exprefly; that thofe States who are concerned in either (if at least, there be any fuch now in the World) may by obferving the Means and the Iffues of C 4 former

f

4

former Diffentions, learn whether the Causes are alike in theirs, and if they find them to be fo, may confider whether they ought not justly to apprehend the fame Effects.

TO fpeak of every particular Perfon impeach'd by the Commons of Athens, within the compafs defigned, would introduce the Hiftory of almoft every great Man they had among them. I fhall therefore take notice only of Six, who living in that Period of Time When Athens was at the height of its Glory (as indeed it could not be otherwife while fuch Hands were at The Helm) tho impeach'd for high Crimes and Mifdemeanours fuch as Bribery, Arbitrary Proceedings, mifapplying or imbelling publick Funds, ill Conduct at Sea, and the like, were honoured and lamented by their Country, Sas the Prefervers of it, and have had the Veneration of all Ages fince paid justly to their Memories.

SMILTIADES was one of the Athenian Generals against the Perfian Power, and the famous Victory at

Mara.