270 



CLiXTON. 



which diseases can be scon and studied by those at- 

 tending it. In Germany, the empirical or experi- 

 mental mode of studying medicine was early given up 

 for the more scientific form of lectures; while in 

 Britain and France, the opposite extreme took 

 place, and students were carried, as they sometim<>> 

 are still, to the bedside of the sick, before they liad 

 been properly grounded in elementary studies. In 

 Germany, there are very numerous journals, which 

 contain clinical repoits of cases, as there are so 

 many clim'cal institutions appropriated to particular 

 classes of disease. In the American schools, clini- 

 cal instruction is almost wholly overlooked, although 

 some slight lectures of this description are given by 

 the physicians of hospitals. The clinical school is 

 called ambulatory, when the patients attend only at 

 particular hours ; and it is termed polyclinic, when 

 the instructor and liis pupils visit together the beds 

 of the sick. 



CLINTON, SIR HENRY, a British general who 

 served in the Hanoverian war, and was sent to 

 America, in 1775, with the rank of major-general, 

 where he distinguished himself in the battle of Bun- 

 ker hill. He was soon after sent against New York 

 and Charleston, but without success. In a second 

 attempt on New York, he entered the city, after 

 having defeated the Americans on Long Island. 

 Being appointed to the command ot that station for 

 the purpose of favouring the movements of general 

 Burgoyne, his attempts were rendered ineffectual by 

 the surrender of that general at Saratoga. In 1778, 

 he succeeded Howe in the command of Philadelphia, 

 which Washington obliged him to evacuate. In 

 1779, he obtained possession of Charleston. His 

 connexion with Arnold (q. v.), his attempt to se- 

 duce the American troops by the offer of making 

 up their arrears of pay, and his boast that there 

 were more American royalists in the pay of the 

 kiag than there were soldiers in the army of Wash- 

 ington, illustrate the system of corruption then adopt- 

 ed by the British generals in America. In 1782, 

 Clinton returned to England, having been supersed- 

 ed by general Carleton. He died in 1795. His 

 Narrative of his conduct in America (1782), -was an- 

 swered by lord Comwallis ; to whom Clinton repli- 

 ed in observations on Lord Cornwallis's answer 

 (1783). He was also the author of observations on 

 Stedman's History of the American War (1784). 



CLINTON, DE WITT, was born, March 2, 1769, 

 at Little Britain, New York, North America. He 

 was of English origin. His father served with great 

 distinction during the revolutionary war, and became 

 a major-general in the army of the United States. 

 His mother was a De Witt, a member of the distin- 

 guished Dutch family of that name. Her parents 

 had emigrated to America. He was educated at 

 Columbia college, where he highly distinguished 

 himself, and in due time, was admitted to the bar. 

 But before he was able to acquire any practice of 

 importance he was appointed private secretary to 

 his uncle George Clinton, and continued in this of- 

 fice until the end of his relative's administration, in 

 1785. In the interim, he had been chosen secretary 

 10 the board of regents of the university, and to the 

 board of fortifications of New York. In 1797, Mr 

 Clinton was elected a member of the legislature of 

 New York, at the time when the two great parties, 

 which have since divided the country, were organiz- 

 ed, and embraced the republican or democratic 

 side. In 1800, he was chosen by the council of ap- 

 pointment, of which body he was a member, to sup- 

 port their cause in a controversy between them and 

 governor Jay. This was finally settled by a conven- 

 tion, which met at Albany, in 1801, when the con- 

 stitution of New York was modified in various ways. 



The same >car lie was chosen a member of Uic 

 senate of the Union, in order to supply the vacancy 

 occasioned by the resignation of general Armstrong 

 and continued a member of tliat body for two ses- 

 sions. After that period, he was chosen mayor o 

 New York, and remained in this situation, with the 

 intermission of but two years, until 1S15, when he 

 was obliged to retire, in consequence of the violence 

 of party politics. Jn 1817, he was elected, almost 

 unanimously, governor of the state ; the two great 

 parties having combined for the purpose of fusing 

 him to that dignity so high was the general SCUM- 

 of his talents and services. This Iiarmony continu- 

 ed until the distribution of offices, when, of course, 

 discontent was excited, and at that time commenced 

 a systematic opposition to his administration. Me 

 was re-elected, however, in 1820, notwithstanding 

 the great exertions of the opposite party. In 1822, 

 he declined offering himself again as a candidate, 

 and retired into private life. In 1810, Mr Clinton 

 had been appointed, by the senate of his state, one 

 of the board of canal commissioners ; but the dis- 

 pleasure of his political opponents, who were, at 

 that time, greatly predominant in the legislature, 

 was excitea by the enthusiasm evinced in his favour 

 at the canal celebration, in October, 1823, at Al- 

 bany, and they deprived him of his office. This act, 

 however, for which no reason could be assigned, oc- 

 casioned a complete reaction of the public feeling- 

 towards him. His friends did not suller the oppor- 

 tunity to escape, but again brought him forward as 

 a candidate for the office of governor, and carried 

 him, by a most triumphant majority, over colonel 

 Young. In 1826, he was again elected, by a large 

 majority, over judge Rochester ; but he died before 

 this term was completed. His decease was in conse- 

 quence of a catarrhal affection of the throat and 

 chest, which being neglected, occasioned a fatal dis- 

 ease of the heart. He expired almost instantane- 

 ously, whilst sitting hi his library, after dinner, Fe\ 

 11, 1828. The next day, business was suspended n 

 Albany. The public testimonials of respect paid to 

 his memory, throughout the state and Union, were 

 almost numberless. His body was interred with 

 every honour. Mr Clinton was tall, finely propor- 

 tioned, and of a commanding aspect. In his domes- 

 tic and social relations, he was cheerful and kind ; 

 hi his friendships warm and sincere ; and in his mora . 

 character, unexceptionable. His manners were ra- 

 ther distant and reserved, in consequence of long 

 habits of abstraction, and a natural diffidence, ot 

 which he never could divest himself. He was an 

 early riser, and extremely laborious, every moment 

 which he had to spare from his necessary duties be- 

 ing devoted to the cultivation of his mind. No one 

 was ever more ambitious of a reputation for science 

 and literature. In some of the physical sciences he 

 was especially versed, and his proficiency as a clas- 

 sical and belles-lettres scholar was very considerable. 

 He was a member of a large part of the literary and 

 scientific institutions of the United States, and an 

 honorary member of many of the learned societies 

 of Great Britain and the continent of Europe. His 

 productions are numerous, and consist of his speeches 

 in the state legislature and hi the senate of the 

 Union, his speeches and messages as governor ; hL 

 discourses before various literary, philosophical, ami 

 benevolent institutions; his addresses to the army 

 during the late war ; his communications concerning 

 the canal; and his judicial opinions ; besides vari- 

 ous fugitive pieces. His national services were of 

 the greatest importance; the Erie canal espe- 

 cially, although his title to the merit of being the 

 originator of the project may be disputed, will P!- 

 ways remain a monument of his patriotism and perse- 



