To the Editor of the Every-day Book.
Sir,
As the “Royal Oak day” will form a prominent subject in your interesting work, I beg to call your attention to the fact, that colonel William Carlos was the companion of his majesty, in his concealment in the tree in Boscobel wood, and to hope that you will point out the right mode of spelling his name; Lord Clarendon, and others who copy from him, always call him colonel Careless, which is a vile misnomer. When a man does an action worthy of record, it is highly grievous to have his name spelt wrong:
“Thrice happy he whose name has been well spelt
In the despatch. I knew a man whose loss
Was printed Grove, altho’ his name was Grose.”
Lord Byron.
A coat of arms and a grant of ballastage dues were made to the colonel; but the latter interfering with the rights of the Trinity-house, was given up. A son of the colonel is buried at Fulham church. The book of “Boscobel,” first printed in 1660, contains accurate particulars of the event I refer to: this little work you have no doubt seen. I have seen a print of W. Pendrill, in an oval, encircled within the foliage of an oak tree, (as we may still see king Charles’s head on some alehouse signs,) with a copy of verses, in which the name of the colonel is correctly spelt.
I am, Sir, &c.
April 16, 1825.
E. J. C.
The “Royal Oak” at Boscobel perished many years ago, but another tree has been raised in its stead to mark the spot.