114 STATEN ISLAND JOURNALISM. 



The chief agitation among the Islanders, at that time, was the at- 

 tempt to secure the erection of a light house on Robin's Reef, and 

 the survey being made for the establishment a navy yard and fort at 

 "the cove" on Bergen Point, opposite New Brighton. The Mirror's 

 editorial comments are as follows : 



"This undertaking, like everything else new, excites our wonder 

 why its object has lain so long unnoticed. The advantages of bold 

 water and proximity to the ocean, this location adds the important 

 consideration of cheap and cos} r defence. It is only approachable by 

 large vessels from one passage. Nature too shut it off in every other 

 direction by shoals and flats. It is also further proposed to es- 

 tablish a fort, similar to that at the Rip Raps, on the reef of rocks 

 at the mouth of the Sound, known as Robin's Reef; and this, in ad- 

 dition to the defense of the navy }*ard, would from its position be 

 able to effect more — in case of an attack upon New York by sea — 

 than all the other forts within the harbor. A strong fort upon 

 Robins Reef, with a short chain to the shore of Staten Islond, would 

 effectually defend the navy yard ; and any other flotilla, or attempting 

 to force its way into our harbor, would enevitably be exposed to a 

 raking fire of four or five miles." 



On September 2d, (1837,) the editor speaks of his prospects as 

 follows: "Bad, badder, baddest! We will continue, however, to 

 publish semi-monthly, until we have obtained a sufficient patronage 

 to warrant our driving the Mirror well. Perseverance is our motto. 

 Everything is attainable by industry and application ; and when we 

 have established a business on Staten Island, we shall take to our- 

 self the credit of some fortitude." He then proceeds to criticize the 

 Rev. Dr. Van Pelt, whom he had engaged to write a history of Staten 

 Island, for omitting a " period embracing the Revolution, and some 

 years after, up to the days of Tompkins." That was the very last of 

 the histoiw. The same number gives accounts of a ball at the 

 Pavilion and the parade of the One Hundred and Forty-sixth Regi- 

 ment. "Major Tompkins, of the staff of Maj.-Gen. Yan Buren, had 

 lately been promoted to the command of the regiment, and this was 

 his first parade or drill of officers." The editor says he unexpectedly 

 met the battalion on its way from Richmond, and then proceeds to 

 criticise it. 



