Written by French Protestant abolitionist and politician Agénor de Gasparin, this book called for the gradual emancipation of slaves through their own labour in the French colonies. It suggests a number of legislative changes which were designed to aid full abolition at a later date. As a politician, Gasparin stresses the value of abolitionism in political culture, as a hot topic of debate and "rallying point" (xv) for supporters. He looks to the example of abolitionism in British politics, considering the question particularly from a religious and moral standpoint. He also stresses the connection between slave trading and slavery, arguing that the only way of putting a stop to the illegal trade would be to abolish slavery altogether.