Magic Lanterns
The earliest references
to a magic lantern in Jamaica that I have found so far are in the Diary of Thomas Thistlewood. According to Professor Douglas
Hall’s survey of the Diary, In Miserable Slavery, Thistlewood received his ‘Magic Lanthorn’ in January
1764; there appears to be no reference to any slides arriving at the same time, but these must have existed for him to be
able to put on his ‘Magic Lanthorn’ show. He mentions this show on several occasions, and clearly he must often
have put it on for visitors.
The next reference
that I have found is in the Appendix to Philip Wright's edition of Lady Nugent’s Journal, in which it is recorded
that the Governor, General Nugent, paid £12 to John Munds for a Magic Lantern with slides, on September 13, 1804. There does
not seem to be any reference to a magic lantern show being put on for the Governor’s family and guests.