We left Hong-Kong at 10 A.M. and entered the inner harbour three hours and a half later. We put up at the house of Dent and Co., provisions and servants having been sent with us. Considerable improvement had been effected by the last governor in roads, cleanliness of streets, etc. A lighthouse had also been built, but as these improvements required money that might otherwise have been remitted to the mother country, the governor was not allowed to remain. After dinner we visited the gambling-houses, recently licensed, curious to see, but too hot to remain in for many minutes. The rules of the game appeared to me less unfair for the player than most games of the sort. A small square cloth in the centre of the table is marked 1, 2, 3, and 4 on the sides. Before placing your stake, a heap of small pice is placed by the dealer or keeper before him on the table, which is partially covered by a cup, the pice are then withdrawn by a pointed stick or long steel needle. As each four are separated they are swept into the original heap from which the handful had just been taken. Four at a time are so withdrawn until the last lot, under five, remain. It is according to the number left whether 1, 2, 3 or 4 win. For instance, if three remain, and you put your money on, you get three times your stake. I was next an American gentleman who had had a dream in which No. 1 was the winning number; in backing his dream he had lost $1400. [Sidenote: May 6 to 14.] On Sunday 5th the English mail arrived at Hong-Kong. Our letters were sent to us in one of the gunboats, the first letters we had received since leaving home. All good news with the exception of the death of Sir Phipps Hornby, removing one admiral from the active list, and rendering the probability of my completing my three years less. [Sidenote: Hong-Kong.] Returned to Hong-Kong in time for Dent’s breakfast. Tuesday, visited the new docks, which are being excavated at Aberdeen, magnificent docks, 400 feet long, capable of holding any ironclad likely to be sent to this station.