The Portland daily press., 1864-01-14

On the 9Th OF October last our City Coun-
Gil passed the following order:
Ordered, That the Mayor, in behalf of the
city government and of the city of Portland,
be, and he is, hereby directed TO express TO
Admiral Lessofisky of the Russian Fleet, now
lying at New York, the profound regard and
friendship entertained by this city toward the
Government of which he is the distinguished
representative, and that the Mayor be further
instructed to extend to Admiral Lessofssky
and his officers an invitation to visit this city
with his Fleet, and partake Of its Inequalities
committee Of the City Council, consist
ing OF Alderman Messer and Councilman
Holden, visited New York and presented Adj
miral Lessofisky with an-attested copy of the
order, together with the following letter from
the Mayor:
MAYORS OFFICE,
Portland, Oct. Is, 1868.
To REAR ADMIRAL S. LEssoFFsKy,
Commanding the Russian Fleet,
New York Harbor
Dear sir:-At meeting of the City Coun-
ell Of this city, held Oct. 5, 1853, it was unani-
nously voted TO extend The invitation to You
TO visit orr city with your Fleet
The order as passed by the Council will be
handed You by the committee OF the Council,
Messrs. Frederick G.. Messer of the Board OF
Aldermen, and Hon. Charles Holden of the
Council.
With the wish that you may find II conve-
nient to accept the invitation, am, with SEN
fiments of the highest regard,
Respectfully yours,
JACOB MCCLELLAN, Mayor.
Ia answer to the invitation, the Admiral
expressed TO the committee the qualification
1t would afford him to visit Portland with his
feet, but, owing to circumstances not under
his control, he could not give definite an
swer then, though he hoped to be able to ac-
cept the invitation.
On Monday the Mayor received letter from
Admiral Lessoflsky, OF which the following is
a copy:
The Honorable lie Mayor Of Portland:
SIR The squadron under my command
has been honored with visit of a deputation
from the citizens of your city, rendering us
their hospitality aud invitation to come to
their waters. Ny verbal answer has been such
as tnconvey to the honorable members Of the
deputaflon the feelings Of high appreciation
!. Of the honor offered US, and at the same time
informed item that our visit depended, uu-
fortunately for us, from circumstances over
which could have no control.
Different repairs that all my ships wanted
more or less, detained me in New York much
longer than | at first imagined. The delay
was oceasioned by scarcity of workmen, even
in New York; large bodies of them being in
earnest reqaisition by the government, for the
support OF the immense navy created in an in
eredibly short time. Finally we had our ships
clear Of the shpwrights, but at period when
i trip 70 the stormy North would be uniusti-
lied, II not commanded BY actual duty
see, therefore, myself obliged to postpone
my visit TO the next Spring, while the winter
months shall be devoted to a cruise in the
West Indies.
BE pleased, Sir, 10 consider in these lines
the expression OF high regard and considera-
ton with which
am, Sir. very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
s. LEssoFFsKY,
Rear Admiral Imperial Russian Navy.
HAMPTON ROADS,
Flag Ship OsLIABA,
Jan. q, 1864.