The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-13 00:00:00

MR. FROST.

A meeting of the friends of Mr. Frost, and the other
persons concerned in the late riots at Newport, took
place last night at the Doctor Johnson's Tavern, Bolt-
court, Fleet-street, for the purpose of considering the
best means of assisting them in their present perilous
emergency.

Among the gentlemen present were—Mr. F. O'Con-
nor, Mr. Richard Oastler, Dr. Wade, Mr. Hartwell,
Mr. Rogers, Mr. Burns, Mr. Bronterre O'Brien, Mr.
Cleave, Mr. Welford, Mr. Gaskill, Mr. Hetherington,
&c. &c.

Mr. Rogers was called to the chair, and several gen-
tlemen addressed the meeting as to the best measures
to be adopted in the present emergency.
A public meeting was suggested, but it was stated
that such a step was not likely to meet the views of
Mr. Frost's legal advisers.

Mr. GASKILI. feared that a public meeting would
afford an opportunity to the advocates of violent mea-
sures to pack the meeting, and give expression to
sentiments which he was satisfied were not the senti-
ments of the Radicals of London.

Mr. OASTLER would certainly object to such a step
being taken without the consent of Mr. Frost's family and
friends. He would ask what was to prevent a paid
agent of the Government speaking at that meeting, and
doing the greatest possible injury to the object they
had in view ?

Mr. CLEAVE said one of the objects which might be
attained by a large public meeting would be the refuta-
tion of the calumnies which had appeared in the public
press with respect to Mr. Frost's characters and the
assertion that had been made of the ahsenoe of all
sympathy on his behalf in the minds of the public.
Mr.O'CoNivoit said the collection of funds alone would
be of very little service to Mr. Frost if the calumnies
of the press were not refuted, which could be bed
done by public meetings. The Whigs and Oho To.
ries, The Sun and the Times were all of the same
way of thinking, One told its readers that public
feeling was against Frost ; the other, that there was
no sympathy in his behalf, Why, let them look at
the effect of public meetings in the la se of the cotton
spra ners and the Dorchester labourers. He should
certainly, therefore, advocate the holding of public
meetings, and moved a rescletion to that effect.
Mr. O'BatEN also thought that the poison infused
by the daily press into the public mind should be coun-
teracted by public meetings. They had seen the case
of -Frost, and the other men, prejudged by the loyal
Magistrates, and public thanksgivings to God and the
military for having saved the town of Newport from
ruin and destruction. There was not the slightest
evidence to show that the object of these men was to
sack the town—on the contrary, it was shown that
they paid at every public-house for what they required
on their way, Tae fact was, that the object
of these men was to show their disapprobation
of the tyrannical and unconstitutional proceedings of the
Whig Magistrates of the district towards Vincent, Ro-
berts, and the other persons in confinement. It was
most important that that fact should be fully set before
the public. He was therefore an advocate for public
meetings, and would support the proposition of Mr.
O'Connor. If the Government saw that twq or three
millions of men were of opinion that the punishment and
sacrifice of these men, so far from preserving life and pro-
perty, would be likely to be attended with much more
disastrous results, it would be doing them essential
service.

Mr. GASKILL thnught there had been too much of
th, language of intimidation used for the last six months,
and that it would do little good to resort to it now.
Mr. O'BRIEN explained. He had never meant to
intimidate the Government. He was merely repeating
the language of The SunArlit the Weekly Chronicle, and
no one would suspect these Journals of wishing to inti-
midate the Government.
Mr. OASTLER wished to know whether Mr. O'Con-
nor, who was best acquainted with the sentiments of Mr.
Frost's family, and lus legal adviser Mr. Geach, could
state if the proposition of public meetings would be ob-
jectionable to them ?

Mr. SWAINE had lately had a communication with
Mr. Gulch, and he believed from his statements that
public meetings would be injurious to Mr. Frost's
interests.

Dr. WADE suggested the propriety of a deputation
to Lord Normanby, to point out the dangers likely to
result from the sacrifice of Mr. Frost.
Several persons objected to suc,;l, a step.
Mr. HARTWELL bell0;31 the great objection to
public meetings wm the tear of injudicious language
being used, Now meetings were already contemplated,
and as it was probable that these would be conducted
in some cases by intemperate although well meaning
persons, it would be as well that the control of these
meetings should be placed in the hands of a Committee.
Mr. HETHERINGTON stated that he saw Mr. Geach
on the previous day, and his only objection to public
meetings lest injudicious language should be used.
Mr. o was,iCo nnor's resolution for the holding of public
meetings in London was then put and carried wimp-
moody._

Mr: O'CONNOR then moved the appointment of a
Committee of seven to carry the previous resolution into
effect, which was agreed to,
Mr. GASKILL then moved that subscriptions be en-
tered into for the defence of Mr. Frost, the funds to
he handed over to Mr. Geach, in order that he and
his fellow prisoners might have a fair and impartial trial.
Mr. ROGERS was then appointed treasurer for the
London district, and several subscriptions were entered
into on the spot.

In the course of the evening it was announced that
Sir F. Pollock, Mr. Fitzroy Kelly, Mr. Thomas, and
Mr. Stone, had been retained for the defence of the
prisoners.

The meeting adjourned at half-past ten o'clock.
•=1•1•1M.....

GERA