Our journals, which tell us of ev'ry one's matters,
From the king on the throne, to the pauper in tatters;
Say his lordship possesses, if rightly I scan 'em,
Two hundred and seventy-two thousands per annum.
On this statement I've latterly ventur'd to ponder,
And deduc'd calculations, with diff'rence as under:
I suppos'd was his income five thousand a week,
(Of the surplus remaining I shall not now speak[2])
By close computation I found it came near
To seven hundred and twenty, for each day's arrear.
Intent on the subject reducing it lower
I found thirty pounds was the draught for each hour.
Pursuing my theme, for amusement was in it,
There were ten shillings sterling for each fleeting minute,
And for ev'ry pulsation of time, called a second,
"According to Cocker," two-pence must be reckon'd.