Genre:

Drama, Satire

Subjects:

War, Chemistry, Electricity, Politics, Internationalism, Force

    Set in the 'Royal Study' of the 'Sans Souci', it features the Prussian 'King Cliquot' (i.e. King Frederick William IV of Prussia) and his two councillors, and concerns their discussion of their relationship with Russia. The first councillor urges Clicquot to 'Make common cause' with 'Austria and the Western Powers' and 'lead the Intellect, / The Science, and the Morals, and the Art'. Having heard Clicquot liken Prussia and Russia to 'Antagonistic forces', the second councillor points out that in nature 'force should with opposing force combine' and illustrates his point with examples from chemistry (for example, acids and alkalis) and electricity. Clicquot adds that since 'acid with alkali makes a neutral salt, / And that suggests a neutral policy'.