Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Caraccioli, Charles
CARACCIOLI, CHARLES (fl. 1766), topographer, was master of the grammar school at Arundel in 1766, and was probably an Italian. In 1758 appeared a work, anonymous, 2 vols. ‘Chiron, or the Mental Optician’ (Monthly Review, 1758, xviii. 276), of which Gough says that Caraccioli was the author (Brit. Topog. ii. 288, note); and about two years later a 6d. pamphlet, entitled ‘An Historical Account of Sturbridge, Bury, and the most Famous Fairs,’ &c., also anonymous, was published at Cambridge for the author, which is attributed in the British Museum Library Catalogue to Caraccioli. This is doubtful, as Caraccioli's own evidence shows that about 1758 and 1760 he did not know English. In 1766 Caraccioli published ‘The Antiquities of Arundel’ by subscription, and dedicated it to the Duke of Norfolk and to the Hon. Edward Howard, the duke's heir-apparent. In 1775 a Charles Caraccioli, gent., published the first volume of ‘The Life of Robert, Lord Clive,’ not dated (Monthly Review, 1775, liii. 80), following this in 1777 by vols. ii. iii. and iv. of the same work (ib. 1777, lv. 480); and Gough identifies this author with the subject of this article (supra). The ‘Monthly Review’ says of ‘Chiron,’ ‘It is a poor imitation of “Le Diable Boiteux”’ (xviii. 276); Gough says of parts of ‘Arundel,’ ‘They are most awkwardly contrived from printed books’ (Brit. Topog. ii. 288); Lowndes says of ‘Clive,’ ‘It is a confused jumble’ (Bibl. Manual, i. 369); and the ‘Monthly Review’ says of it, ‘It is ill-digested, worse connected, and similarly printed.’
[Monthly Review, xviii. 276, liii. 80, lv. 480; Gough's Brit. Topog. ii. 288; Lowndes's Bibl. Man. i. 369.]