Page:The Green Bag (1889–1914), Volume 10.pdf/156

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Vol.. X.

No. 4.

BOSTON.

April, 1898.

HENRY LAURENS CLINTON. HENRY LAURENS CLINTON — pictorial justice. Any time during the half one of the veterans of the New York century, the stranger meeting Mr. Clinton, bar and now by reason of " superior unknowing his identity, would be sure to strength " pressing onward to the four score designate him mentally as a member of the years consecrated by King Solomon — bears legal profession. a family surname that has long been distin Mr. Clinton came into it concurrently guished in the annals of the Empire State. with the advent of the New York State Con A Clinton was once vice-president of the stitution of 1846, which introduced many re United States; and the name of De Witt forms and notafew novelties into the jurispru Clinton always comes into memory when is dence of the state. He has therefore grown mentioned the great Erie Canal whereof he pari passu with the growth of the system was creator. The old lawyer's Christian of jurisprudence and its procedures as now name was that of the first president of the established. Mr. Clinton enjoyed the rare Continental Congress, and a patriot who advantage of becoming a law student in the played for South Carolina such a role of office of David Graham the second — a statesmanship as John Adams essayed for sketch of whose legal career was given in the Massachusetts. Blessed with such grand Green Bag for August, 1894. That pre patronymics Henry Laurens Clinton, while ceptor had published, after the lines laid yet a schoolboy, resolved to duly honor down by Chitty, a volume upon court prac tice in New York State, and he was acknowl them, and he has done so. edged to be the most learned and skillful Steadily refusing many offers and oppor tunities for entering public life in his career practitioner of his day. To enter his law office as student became a much sought after he has passed it entirely in beloved profes and estimable privilege. This Mr. Clinton sional pursuits. He has been recently seek ing holiday repose and healthful recreation enjoyed for several years, and indeed became at the fashionable suburban resort of Lake- David Graham's favorite pupil, accompany wood — a suburb of the City of New York ing him upon all his nisi prius errands. wherein for precisely half a century Mr. When Graham died in 1853 from the effects Clinton has practiced law. One of the of overwork and anxiety, the memory of him Lakewood guests surveying Mr. Clinton's as pleader, orator, and cross-examiner and in divers personal peculiarities, was kept stalwart figure and massive head and look ing into his shrewd but kindly eyes, was green by Mr. Clinton who had naturally heard to remark that if a full bottomed wig taken his preceptor as a model. He had, at the time of Graham's death, been half a were to crown his expansive brow, Mr. Clin ton would remind one of the portraits of some dozen years in individual practice; and had old Benchers of the Middle Temple to whom been fortunate enough to escape that weary the brush and palette of a Sir Peter Lely, waiting for clients which comes to so many or Sir Thomas Lawrence, had done great young practitioners. David Graham was re «33