Daniel Defoe 
Dickory Cronke: The Dumb Philosopher, or, Great Britain’s Wonder 

Dickory Cronke: The Dumb Philosopher by Daniel Defoe is a story about a man from Taskiddy who was born unable to speak. Finally gaining the ability later in life, Cronke writes his memoir about his thoughts, ideas, and experiences and their philosophical meaning. Excerpt: ‘Dear sister, ‘ says he, ‘you observe very well, and I wish the continuance of my speech for a few moments, that I might make an ample declaration upon that account. But I find that cannot be; my speech is leaving me so fast that I can only tell you that I have always lived, and now die, an unworthy member of the ancient catholic and apostolic church…’