A Discourse Being Introductory to his Course of Lectures on Elocution and the English Language (1759)

"A Discourse Being Introductory to his Course of Lectures on Elocution and the English Language" by Thomas Sheridan is a speech from 1759 that kicks off a series of lessons about speaking well. The book highlights the role of clear and powerful speaking as a cornerstone of both the English language itself and proper presentation. Sheridan looks at why people weren't paying enough attention to elocution, and he lays out a plan for learning English in a way that would make sense with old-school ideas about rhetoric. He thinks speaking is more important than writing, and that if people can talk well, it's good for everyone and makes things better in society. The book basically dreams up a system where people can get real training in elocution. Sheridan strongly believes that if people get good at speaking, they'll not only become better people, but it will also make the country better. Ultimately, he's selling the idea that being a good speaker is super important for a healthy, free society where everyone can have their say.