Letter from Thomas Hazard protesting his innocence to Viscount Sidmouth, 13 May 1820 (catalogue reference HO 44/6/229)
Transcript
My Lord
I would not presume to offer myself to your notice at this time, but that it is in your Lordship’s power to recompense me for the injury I have received from my being unjustly confined 9 weeks under the false charge of High Treason, which has been clearly proved to be false, no bill of indictment having been found against me, I am involved in the greatest indigence [in extreme poverty] in consequence of the said confinement, my school by which I have thirty three years maintained my family comfortable, is all gone, and I at the age of sixty years am destitute, my wife through my arrest is afflicted with insanity, whereas if she was well might have rendered assistance to me. I need not tell your Lordship of my affliction as you have seen me twice before the Honourable Privy Council, therefore I humbly hope that when your Lordship considers how I am situated, and the distress I am driven to, your humanity will induce you to order a reparation of my loss to be immediately given to me, to keep me from perishing with want. And also that your Lordship would order all my papers etc. to be restored to me with the handkerchief that encloses them.
I am your Lordship’s Humble Servant,
Thomas Hazard
May 13th 1820