Whose dirty tricks have brought about
His nation to be quite shut out
From Europe’s Council? Germans, shout—
King Clicquot.
Who vacillates ’twixt knave and fool?
Who’s the Czar’s satrap, pander, tool?
Who is no longer fit to rule?
King Clicquot.
Punch, March 31, 1855.
Frederick William, King of Prussia, (the elder brother of the present German Emperor,) had the credit of being a stupid sensualist, and was long known in England by the nickname “King Clicquot.” During his reign Prussia had come to occupy a lower position in Europe than she had ever before held during her existence as a Kingdom. It seemed almost marvellous how by any process the country of the Great Frederick could have sunk to such a condition of insignificance. At the period just preceding the Crimean War the King of Prussia, with his usual indecision of character, led the Allies to believe he would side with them, and then, at the last minute, withdrew from the compact, saying that the interests of Prussia did not require him to engage in a war. Prussia was relieved from the rule of this weak and vacillating individual, by his death in January, 1861.