Hongkong, Dec. 8.
(Delayed in transmission)
The most important event of the past week was the departure of the local contingent, To be quite frank, it was not so large as had been expected and was con: siderably below the strength which might fairly be asked from Hong kong. It is noticeable, again, that amongst the names of those who Jeff, there was one class, most of whom are volunteers, that did not figure. No doubt there exist perfectly simple and legitimate reasons for both circumstances, but they have not been made public and the unfortunate result is that unwholesome tales are abroad.
It is @ nice point whether it would not be well to have some authoritative statement on these points which might effectually salt the tails of the rumours that are abroad. There have been altogeth er too many unfounded and unpleasing things said in Hongkong of late. It is not good business, and it is not patriotic, to indulge in gossip that can serve no good pur-Pose and may serve an ill one.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.