Tuesday 1 January 2013

Edward Marsh Heaviside


Edward Marsh Heaviside
(Born at Stockton-on-Tees, November 20th 1820; resided at Stokesley
four years, 1843-47, of which place his Mother was a native, and here
he composed and published his “Songs of the Heart, the Meeting of
the Minstrels, and Miscellaneous Poems,” 1845; and Died at his
native place, of Asiatic Cholera, September 6th 1849, Æ 28 Years.)

Son of a sterling Bard, himself as true
Edward's father - Henry
A Poet as e’er felt the inspiration;
Cut off from earth ere half his neighbours knew
Their Minstrel’s manly worth; yet will our nation
Honour his name, as one who laboured well 5
To spread the light of poësy o’er the land;
And they who knew the Man, will ofttimes tell
Of all his virtues. Ye who understand
The Poet’s art divine; will comprehend
The claims of genius; deem not a friend 10
Too partial claims a merit more than due.
I knew his soul, and much it long’d to give
To earth a treasure that for aye might live;
And so he gave us Poems as musically sweet as true.

E. M. Heaviside’s Flute.
“Like the old English Minstrels and provencal Troubadours,
our Poet was equally distinguished as a Musician; and they
who but once had the pleasure of listening to his sweet
performance on the German Flute, will not soon forget his
pleasing strains. But he was taken from us ere half his talents
were fairly developed”.—
PETER PROLETARIUS.

’T is forty years since last I heard the Flute,
Breathed by the Poet’s lips, whilst Music came
Forth, as he touched its keys, to raise the flame
Of patriotism,—or, like an Aeolian lute,
Breathed by the lips of zephyrs, rendered mute 5
The soul, subdued to silence by the power
Of too much feeling in that sacred hour
When finest senses all were too acute
For aught save tears. And yet at times I seem
To clearly listen to its tones once more, 10
As I so loved to do in days of yore,
And cannot rouse me from my waking dream:
Yea, do not wish,—for Recollection then
Seems to restore him to my hearth again!

George Markham Tweddell (Aka Peter Proletarius)

Edward Marsh Heavisides was the son of Henry Heavisides, printer, poet, historian and musician of Finkle Street, Stockton (with Stokesley associations). Henry is written about by Tweddell in Bards and Authors of Cleveland and South Durham and Edward was earmarked for the second volume that never came out. Edward was also written about by William Hall Burnett in Old Cleveland, Local Writers and Local Worthies.

There is a post for each of these two books (with a book download option) on the Tweddell Hub here http://georgemarkhamtweddell.blogspot.co.uk/ and also an article on Henry Heavisides.



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