The Comte de Montureux's essay begins with the premise that the necessity of abolition had already been established, "since England wishes it, and since this will is seconded in all civilised countries by ardent and active supporters" (1). Montureux thus focuses on achieving a reluctant, gradual abolition. He is concerned that the French government would not follow British compensation policy for slave owners, and sees this as verging on communism and the abolition of private property (4). His long term strategy for the creation of a free work-force is based on convoluted legal reform, the gradual "moral improvement" of the slaves (6) through an apprenticeship scheme, and the establishment of a mixed-race, creole population in the Antilles.