The Sun. — 1842-08-15 (London, England)

DEATH OF THE OLDEST REFORMER IN ENGLAND.  On the 25th ult., at Holly Lodge, Lymington, died John Frost, the Secretary, and one of the founders of the Corresponding Society, which may be taken as the earliest association in furtherance of Reform in England, and who, had he lived till October, would have been ninety-two years of age ; his was a most eventful life. He was the associate and friend of Pitt before he changed sides, of Fox, the Duke of Richmond, of Wilks, Sawbridge Townshend, Home Tooke, Sheridan, and all the public men of that and of a later day. In 1792, the Reformer Gerrald was secreted at Mr. Frost's house, and so were others at that period of proscription. He was elected a deputy from the Constitutional Society to the Convention of France in 1793, his colleague being Joel Barlow, whose expenses he defrayed. In this capacity he was present, but did not vote on the trial of the French King. He sat next Barriere, and was referred to by him as to the period of the reign of our first Charles, and the precedents which it furnished. For this he was, by name, denounced, in one of Burke's speeches, as the ambassador to the murderers.  On his return from France he was a man esteemed too dangerous not to be closely watched. He was dogged by spies, and was purposely interrogated as he came through a public coffee-room from a private room up-stairs, as to what was going on in France. He replied in warm commendation of their proceedings, and added some foolish words which were construed into sedition. For this he was tried, and, although splendidly defended by his friend Erskine,.' was convicted and sentenced to twelve months' imprisonment, to the pillory; and to he struck off the • rolls as an attorney. This sentence was even then held to he most unjuAtly severe. The imprisonment ' he endured in Newgate, where he was visited as a martyr by above 1,000 persons. The pillory he escaped, as it was pulled down by the mob, who forced the Sheriff.: to fly, and he, accompanied by Horne Tooke, walked quietly back from Charing-cross, where he re-delivered himself to the gaoler. On another occasion he was apprehended for treason, and was for five days under examination before the Privy Council, and then very narrowly escaped committal. About the year 1800, Mr. Frost stood for East Grinstead, against the interest of the Duchess of Dorset. He was returned after a hard contest ; a petition and scrutiny ensued, and he was ultimately unseated, as was alleged, by the pirtialitv of the returning officer. This cost him 1,5001. One objection taken was his being tainted as afelon, and having yet hanging over him the unexecuted part of his sentence—the pillory. A pardon, however, was ob. tained through Sheridan 's influence under the sign manual.  To Mr. Sheridan he also advanced large sums ; aid when he died a friendly execution of Mr. Frost wrs, and long had been, in the house.  Mr. Frost had made copious notes of his own proceedings and those of his party during the long course of his public life. They must, necessarily. c,,atain much that is intere,ting and instructive. Whther they will be made public wholly, or in part, has not yet beon determined.