[320] In this document we may perhaps trace the hand of T. J. Dunning, one of the ablest Trade Unionists of his time. Born in 1799, he became Secretary of the Consolidated Society of Bookbinders in 1843. In 1845 he joined the National Association of United Trades, but left that body after a few years. The _Bookbinders’ Circular_, which he started in 1850, was, during the rest of his life, largely written by himself, and contains many well-reasoned articles on Trade Union matters. In 1858 Dunning joined the celebrated Committee of Inquiry into Trade Societies which was appointed by the Social Science Association. He contributed a history of his own society to the Report, and frequently took part in the subsequent annual congresses. His chief literary production is the essay entitled, _Trades Unions and Strikes; their philosophy and intention_ (1860, 50 pp.), which he wrote for the prize instituted by his own Union for the best defence of the workmen’s organisation. This essay, which no publisher would accept, and which was printed by his society, remains, perhaps--apart from George Howell’s historical researches in _Conflicts of Capital and Labour_, and _Labour Legislation, Labour Movements and Labour Leaders_--the best presentation of the Trade Union case which any manual worker has produced. He died in harness on the 23rd of December 1873. [321] Report of London Committee of Trades Delegates to the National Conference of Trades Delegates, Easter, 1845; preserved in the archives of the Friendly Society of Operative Stonemasons. [322] _Stonemasons’ Fortnightly Circular_, May 14, 1846. [323] Minutes of delegate meetings of the “Operative Cotton-spinners, Self-acting Minders, Twiners, and Rovers,” held every other Sunday. See July 20, August 3, and December 14, 1845. [324] _Times_, November 16, 1846.