HC Deb 16 March 1818 vol 37 cc1101-2
Mr. Alderman Wood

presented a petition from Thomas Preston, late a prisoner in the Tower. The petitioner stated himself to have been taken up on the 4th of December, 1816, and carried before Matthew Wood, esq. then lord mayor of London, by whom he was dismissed, on his proving, to the satisfaction of the said M. Wood, esq. that the charges preferred against him were groundless. He was afterwards again taken before the same lord mayor, and was committed to prison, where he remained five days, cut off from communication with his friends. While thus confined, Castles, a person. of universal notoriety, went to his residence, No. 9, Greystoke-place, where he falsely represented himself to petitioner's daughter to have been authorized by the petitioner to dispose of his furniture, which Castles accordingly carried away and sold. The petition went on to set forth that the petitioner had been detained in prison till the month of June, when he was tried for high treason, and acquitted. The petition concluded by praying the House to impeach his majesty's ministers for their conduct, and also to take his case into consideration, and redress his sufferings.—Ordered to be panted.