Northern Star, The

United Irishmen’s Belfast organ, ed. Samuel Neilson. See Marianne Elliott, Wolfe Tone, and diary of Thomas russel; also RR Madden, works; note also that Feargus O’Connor called his Chartist journal the NS, while T.P. O’Connor called his popular rag the Star. There is a play of this name on Henry Joy McCracken by Stewart Parker.

C. J. Woods, ed., Journals and Memoirs of Thomas Russell (IAP 1991), Northern Star: Prosecution of the proprietors and printer of the paper for sedition began in Jan. 1793; notice of trial was served in July. The government postponed the trial, intending that the accused should compromise. When it took place in May 1794, the proprietors were acquitted, although the printer John Rabb was convicted and imprisoned. (See Brian Inglis, Freedom of the press in Ireland 1784-1841, London 1954, pp. 94-5. Drennan’s Letters, p.165, shows that ‘the Star people were all wishing to give up the paper, if they could dissolve their agreement, that the paper would certainly drop and that Neilson was now quite deprived of his political boldness.’ [n.6, 80]. And note Thomas Russell’s Journal e‘The day before it was in contemplation to sell the Northern Star to gover[n]ment. I leave town the day they are to debate whether they will declare for reform. Is that carries all will go well. If not, America, ho!’ [72]

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