110 STATEN ISLAND JOURNALISM. 



"copyright and patronage" of the paper. He claimed that it was 

 one of the best established papers in the city. October 3d this item 

 appeared : "A farmer on Staten Island, whose fertile grounds we 

 were admiring at the time, informed us that when he first came into 

 possession of his farm, there was but one blade of grass within its 

 precincts, and that a famished grasshopper was perched upon that, 

 making his dying prayer." 



The Free Press lost its interest in the Island shortly, and was su- 

 perseded, in a measure, by the New York Plaindealer. Its first num- 

 ber was issued on December 3d, 1836. It was a very ably conducted 

 paper. The great bank question, which at that time was the absorb- 

 ing topic for the whole country, consumed a very large portion of its 

 space. Its love for Andrew Jackson was only equalled by its hatred 

 for Martin Van Buren. It was printed for the proprietor by William 

 Van Norden, at 96 Nassau street ; the publication office was at the 

 corner of Pine street and Broadway. The editor was very bitter in 

 his denunciation of the respect shown to Aaron Burr, at the time of 

 the old soldier's death at Port Richmond, and a day or so later, when 

 the college authorities at Princeton, with distinguished honors, placed 

 his mortal remains at the feet of his fathers. The language used is 

 far more forcible than elegant. The Pavilion Hotel at New Brighton, 

 was a social center in those days, and the Plaindealer gives an elabo- 

 rate description of the house and becomes enthusiastic over the, 

 charming scenery of the Island. 



The Staten Islander made its appearance at this period, as near as 

 I can ascertain. Its editor was John J. Adams, who, on retiring from 

 it, became one of the editors of the New York Sunday Morning Neivs. 

 The paper contained four small pages and was printed in New York 

 City. There was a revival at that day, of a strong feature which 

 characterized the press of America immediately after the close of the 

 Revolution — namely, a strict regard for all matters of a literary na- 

 ture. Local news, the little details of every-day life in village and 

 and country — was a secondary matter, and the Staten Islander " moved 

 and had its being" in the beaten paths of its contemporaries. It 

 continued to be published for many years. 



The first newspaper ever printed on Staten Island was the Rich- 

 mond County Mirror, which made its appearance in July, 1837. Mr. 

 Francis L. Hagadorn was the editor and proprietor, and the publica- 



