During the years 1821 and 1822 the future Chartist leader John Frost embarked upon a public campaign against Thomas Prothero, a lawyer and dominant figure in Newport. This campaign resulted from the injustice felt by Frost over the Will of William Foster, over which he believed himself to be badly treated by Prothero and left with an unfair debt. The Letter to Thomas Prothero as published in September 1821 contained the private letter sent by Frost July 1820, for which Prothero instigated a libel action in January 1821. Also contained in the pamphlet are a number of accusations against Prothero, relating to the libel trial, Prothero's handling of the Foster Will affair and Prothero’s private life. Following publication of this pamphlet Prothero again prosecuted Frost and at a trial held at the King's Bench in March 1822, the jury found against Frost and awarded £1,000 damages to Prothero. This conflict with Thomas Prothero played an important part in John Frost'’s development as a radi
