In this pamphlet, French abolitionist Félice describes the development of the campaign for immediate emancipation of the slaves. He comments that openly pro-slavery attitudes have become less acceptable in French political culture: "everyone nowadays is an abolitionist, or claims to be" (5), but often agreement in theory is not supported in practice. Félice sets out the moral and practical case for immediate abolition in the French colonies, arguing that Britain had already established a precedent, and that slavery should be recognised and condemned in France as "a crime of lese-humanity" (14). He calls for "national honour" (40) to be upheld, and for an end to the excuses and half measures offered by the gradualists. He also examines the passage of British anti-slavery campaigns from gradualism to immediatism, identifying Elizabeth Heyrick as a particularly important figure, and comparing this to the lack of evolution of French abolitionism since 1834: "France has gone backwards" (55). He concludes that strengthening anti-slavery public opinion in France, and setting an example for the rest of the world, should be the priorities of the abolitionist movement.

See Immediate not gradual abolition (1824), attributed to Elizabeth Heyrick.