Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1865-07-20
ILLNESS OF JEFF. DAVIS.
A Great Change Since the Execution Of tn
Conspirators-Condit of Clay an,
MITCHELL,

New York Herald writes: ~ ..1 =
From all the sources OF information am ahls
20 command, there is no doubt JEFF. Davis is
slowly but surely declining in health from his
protracted Imprisonment. He VIII not even
avail himself of the opportunities OF exercise
afforded him, and he has space of about twen-
~ by twenty feet he could walk about in II he
chose; but al the long hours of each weary day,
he sits N the barred embrasure OF his casemate,
sulien, silent, speechless. With his chin alter
nately resting on one hand and then on both,
he looks unintermittingly through the opening.
Where rest his eyes and what thoughts stir his
brain, no one can tell. Before him are the bay
and the passing ships, and the Rip Raps, grow
ing each day into wondrous work of impreg-
nable strength; and beyond, the blue sky and
feeting clouds and wild sea-birds enloyi ng the
boundless freedom of the outer air. Mtngling
with these sights comes that perpetual mourn
full refrain, the sound of the wares dashing
upon the beach. Here he Is a prisoner, and
under what circumstances and under what
terrible charges hanging over him. Not a mo-
ment is he left alone--not moment passes that
he is not under the vigilant eyes OF soldiers.
There is no egress through those strong IRON
bars. There is no escape through this Gordon
of muskets. There can be no attemptat rescUe
from without What wonder is it that that
form has grown more emaciated, those cheeks
more sunken, those eyes more lustrous, that
biow more wrinkled, his hair whittier, his
words fewer, his spirits sunk IN perpetual
gloom! Health has left him, hope is gone; that
proud spirit is broken, and the end is not far.
am writing no fancy sketch. / have been
told to-day that JEFF. Davis, if he keeps up his
present prison dependency, rtll not Iire sic
GeekS longer.
Yesterday Mr.. Davis requested permission
for n chaplain 20 see him. This is the second
request of this kind he has made since his ar
rival. Chaplain kerfoot was sent TO his cell.
He greeted the chaplain with warmth. 1T is
TO you and to this Book" (holding the Bible in
his hand,)sI must look,' he said, 'for consola-
ton now" The chaplain talked TO him of his
spiritual condition, read to him pas.
sages from the Bible, and prayed with.him.
After the chaplain left, Davis appeared 10 he
in much better spirits than he has been in for
some time past.
He reads the Bible morning and evening
Recently, am told, he protracts these read
ings much more than at the commencement of
his imprisonment. He confesses his belief in
the Bible. and processes to have made it the
ruling guide of his life. 1t is evident that he
does not fancy being confined exclusively to
reading the Scriptures for he sometimes
clamors for different style of literature; hut
his request in this regard thus far has not been
complied with. This refusal to extend his
write to his wife or see letters from her, have
formed the burden of his complaints
Ifpermission was given him to have all the
books he wished he could not read much him.
self, and for the comfort derived from them
would have to rely mainly on others reading
to him. One eye is now almost totally blind,
coming So He has complained lately of seeing
objects double He still wears his goggles
during the day time.
Life in prison is neccsg gar1y monotonous.
With few it has ever been more SO than with
Davis. He rises pretty early, usually ct five
O'Clock in the morning. He takes a bath the
first thing, using salt water at first, and winding
up with fresh wafer His bathing facilities ara
limited, consisting OF common washtub half
filled with salt water, washbasin of fresh
water, coarse towels, and soap. An army
blanket he converts into temporary screen,
and bathes behind this. He is not very partic-
ular about his toilet, the fashion of combing his
hair and all that, but is exact upon the subject
of cleanliness OF his underclothing, sheets,
towels, &c. Bath and toilet completed, he reads
his Bible, and ut half.past eight has his break
fast. This is served him from DIR. Craven'S.
table. The statement in some OF the papers that
daughter of DIR. Craven brings him his food
is incorrect. soldier brings his meals to him.
Tea, toast, and an egg or two, or broiled steak,
usually make up his breakfast. His appetite is
very variable. General Miles may call in to
see him and pass few words or the officer OF
the guard may have something to say; for only
these two, except his physician. DIR. Craven,
and the chaplain, of course, when he calls, are
allowed to speak to him. In nversation, he
has betrayed an anxiety and even determination
to discuss the subject of the impossibility of
ever convictlng him of treason. He throws
himself back upon the question of State lights,
as his main point of defense. For some time,
findin that all the discussion was on his own
side, he has Kept silent on the subject. Except
these interruptions IN the way Of con versation,
which, it will be understood. are not daily hy
any means, he passes most Of his time till half
past three b. m., his dinner hour, in looking at
the window. He smokes his pipe occasionally,
but he is no great smoker. He says that much
he passes the time as before. He has supper at
halt-past eight o'clock, and then directly goes
to bed. He sleeps pretty soundly, but more SO
formerly than latterly. At first the light kept
burning In the room all night troubled him. but
he has become used to it and makes no COM
plant on the subject now, as perhaps he knows
it would do no good if he did.
In previous letters 1 have described Mr..
Davis quarters and the guard placed over
him. Both continue the same as at first. He
has been urgent to have the guard in his own
ia the caSpmpnt--tyyO
kept constantly in both front and back room
and an officer with them-removed and kept in
the front room. But his entreaty was OF no
avail. Next he desired that the guard in his
own room might be allowed to stand instead of
being kept walking, but here, too his req uest
has not been complied with.
There is every reason to believe that the exc
cution of the assassination conspirators in
Washington has been communicated TO Davis
within the past three or four days. Iti certain
that great and marked change has come over
him, and to his undoubted knowledge of this
execution the change is attributed. His food is
of the best quality, he has abundance of pure
air, and there IS no special reason otherwise
accounting ior present gloominess and de.
creasing health.
Every day Mr. Clay is improving in health.
He still takes his morning hours walk, and is
in greatly improv we'd physical condition Oh ac-
count Of it. DIR. Bancroft feeds him on hoe pital
diet yet; in fact, his constitution is in no con-
dition to stand stronger food. He is very lively
and chatty If he can get any one to talk with
him, and hopeful as to the future.
Nothing seems to affect the physique Of Mr..
Mitchell. He is apparently in as good health
as on the day he was brought here He goes
barefooted most of the time and takes things
coolly and quietly. His manners are not
conciliatory, not calculated to attach friends to
him. am told that he has not lately expressed
any fears as to the President pressing pardon
upon him.
FINANCIAL.-The New York stock market
was yesterday rather more buoyant than on
Tuesday, but still depressed under the ad-
,.utn fnr In ofnn nhc fl,n oh fnf
feature was the activity of Governments.
Agents of foreign houses were buying freely of
fiye.twenties, and some purchases were made
by importers tcr remittances in lieu OF ex.
change. Seven -tairties are not SO strong the
second series sold at 997s and the.current issue
has been sold at Lie below subscription price.
State stocks were rather more active and firmer.
Bank stocks sold more freely. The transactions
in the miscellaneous stock We're merely nomi-