Old King Coal paid a very high toll,
And a very high toll paid he:
And the City of London eat up the whole,
By consent of the Powers that be.
This won’t do, this won’t do, this won’t do! says the people;
This must not, shall not be;
And we now declare we’ll no longer bear
Such a monstrous robbery!
Punch. November 29, 1851.
(Notwithstanding Mr. Punch’s virtuous indignation the City of London still levies the obnoxious Coal Tax, and Parliamentary Reports have recently shown in what manner some of the money is expended.)