in my fortunate condition of health was, perhaps, that I
had no ridiculous ambition. What was to come would come as the result
of hard work, for I was born to no miraculous interpositions or
official friendships.

Having dropped gambling, I set to work, and after a long spell of
_nisi prius_, in all its phases, had engaged my attention, a new
sphere of action presented itself in the shape of Compensation
Cases--an easy and lucrative branch, which seemed to be added to,
rather than have grown out of, our profession; but whatever was its
connection, it was a prolific branch, hanging down with such good
fruit that it required no tempter to make you taste it.

Railway, Government, and Municipal authorities were everywhere taking
land for public improvements, and where they were, as a rule, my
friend Horace Lloyd and myself were engaged in friendly rivalry as to
the amount to be paid.

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE PRIZE-FIGHT ON FRIMLEY COMMON.

I must now describe a remarkable event that occurred a great many
years ago, and which caused no little amusement at the time; indeed,
for years after Baron Parke used to tell the story with the greatest
pleasure.

In those old days there was a prize-fight on Frimley Common, and it
was known long after as the "Frimley Common Prize-Fight," although
many a battle had taken place on Frimley Ridges before that time,
and many a one since. This particular fight was the more celebrated
because one of the combatants was killed, and I remember the events
connected with it as clearly as if they had taken place only
yesterday. At the following Kingston Assizes the victorious pugilist
was indicted for manslaughter. It was an awful charge, especially
before the Judge who was then presiding. The man, however, escaped for
the moment, and a warrant was issued for his apprehension.

At a later period I was at Guildford, where the Assizes were being
held. Even at that time the man "wanted" for the manslaughter could be
easily identified, for he still bore visible signs of the punishment
he had undergone in the encounter.

I was sitting in court one afternoon when a country sporting attorney
of the name of Morris quietly sidled up to me. I ought to mention that
at these Assizes Lord Chief Justice Erie was sitting, and it was well
known that he also detested the Prize Ring, and had therefore, no
sympathy with any of its members. He was consequently a dangerous
Judge to have anything to do wit