his closest intimates were Mr. Lushington and his old schoolfellow Mr.
Arthur Coleridge, who became Clerk of Assize upon the circuit. At
starting he had also the society of his friend Grant Duff. They walked
together in the summer of 1855, and visited the Trappist Monastery in
Charnwood Forest. There they talked to a shaven monk in his 'dreary
white flannel dress,' bound with a black strap. They moralised as they
returned, and Fitzjames thought on the whole that his own life was
wholesomer than the monastic. He hopes, however, that the monk and his
companions may 'come right,' as 'no doubt they will if they are honest
and true.' 'I suppose one may say that God is in convents and churches
as well as in law courts or chambers--though not to my eyes so
palpably.'

Sir M. Grant Duff left the circuit after a year or two; but Fitzjames
found a few other congenial companions with whom he could occasionally
walk and often argue to his heart's content. Among his best friends was
Kenneth Macaulay, who became a leader on the circuit, and who did his
best to introduce Fitzjames to practice. Mr. Arthur Coleridge, too, was
able to suggest to the judges that Fitzjames should be appointed to
defend prisoners not provided with counsel. This led by degrees to his
becoming well known in the Crown Court, although civil business was slow
in presenting itself. Several of the judges took early notice of him. In
1856 he has some intercourse with Lord Campbell, then Chief Justice, and
with Chief Baron Pollock, both of them friends of his father. He was
'overpowered with admiration' at Campbell's appearance. Campbell was
'thickset as a navvy, as hard as nails,' still full of vigour at the age
of seventy-six, about the best judge on the bench now, and looking fit
for ten or twelve years' more of work.[64] Pollock was a fine lively old
man, thin as a threadpaper, straight as a ramrod, and full of
indomitable vivacity. The judges, however, who formed the highest
opinion of him and gave him the most encouragement were Lord Bramwell
and Willes.

In 1856 he observes that he was about to take a walk with Alfred Wills
of the 'High Alps.' This was the present Mr. Justice Wills; who has
also been kind enough to give me some recollections which are to the
purpose in this place. Wills was called to the bar in 1851 and joined
the Midland Circuit, but attended a different set of quarter sessions.
He saw a good deal of Fitzjames, however, at the assizes; an