 Instead, Hogarth proceeded to create the engravings himself and announced the publication of the prints, along with that of "Beer Street" and "Gin Lane", in the "London Evening Post" over three days from 14 to 16 February 1751.The prints themselves were published on 21 February 1751 and each was accompanied by a moralising commentary, written by the Rev.James Townley, a friend of Hogarth's.