m 



Account of the 

 exhibition of; 

 Mr. Philipfthal 



thrkhefe. 

 Thunder. 

 Lightning. 



Figures of the 

 departed j phan 

 tomsj &c. 



The figures 

 fe«m to recede 

 to an immenfe 

 di fiance. 



How effected. 



Tnui s forma- 

 tions. 



Skeletons, &c 

 fuddenly rufh 

 Forward. 



NARRATIVr. 01 THI. PHANTASMAGORIA.* 



All the lights of the fmall theatre of exhibition were re- 

 moved, except one hanging hiih{5, which could be drawn up 

 fo that its flame fhould be perfectly enveloped in a cylindrical 

 chimney, bropake fliade. In (his gloomy and wavering light 

 the curtain was drawn up, and presented to the fpe&ator a 

 fcave or place exhibiting fkeletoiis, and other figures of terror, 

 in relief, and painted on the fides or walls. After a fhort 

 interval the lamp was drawn up, and the audience were in 

 total dnrknefs, fucceeded by thunder and lightning ; which 

 lalt appearance was formed , by the magic lanthorn upon a 

 thin cloth or {creen, let down alter the difappearance of the 

 light, and consequently unknown- to moit of the fpeclators. 

 Theie appearances were followed by figures of departed men, 

 ghofis, lkeletons, tranfmutations, &c. produced on the fcreen 

 by the magic lanthorn on the other fide, and moving their 

 eyes, mouth, &c. by the well known contrivance of two or 

 more Aiders. The transformations are effected by moving the 

 adjufting tube of the lanthorn out of focus, and changing the 

 iiider during the moment of the confufed appearance. 



It mu ft be again remarked, that thefe figures appear 

 without any unrounding circle of illumination, and that the 

 Spectators, baying no previous view or knowledge of the 

 fcreen, nor any viiible object of com pari fon, are each left to 

 imagine the difiance according to tfeeir refpective fancy. 

 After a very iiiort time of exhibiting the firft figure, it was 

 {een to contract gradually in all its dimenfions, until it became 

 extremely fmall and then vanifhed. This effect, as may eafily 

 be imagined, is produced by bringing the lanthorn nearer and 

 nearer the fcreen, taking care at the fame time to prefervc 

 the diftinctnefs, and at lafi clofing the aperture altogether : 

 and the procefs being (except as to brightnefs)^ exactly the 

 fame as happens when viiible objects become more remote, 

 the mind is irrefiftably led lo confider the figures as if they 

 were receding to an immenfe diftance. 



Several figures of celebrated men were thus exhibited with 

 fome transformations ; fuch as the head of Dr. Franklin being 

 converted into a ikull, and thefe were fucceeded by phantoms, 

 . lkeletons, and various terrific figures, which inftead of feem- 

 ing to recede and then vaniili, were (by enlargement) made 

 fuddeniy to advance ; to the furprize and aftonifhment of the 

 audience, and then difappear by feeming to fink into the 

 ■ground. 



This 



