Washington telegraph., 1865-08-09
Correspondence of the New York Herald.

liz icoo.-r rom ali the sources OF lnfOr-
nation am abie 10 command. there is
no doubt jeff Davis is slowly but surely
declining in health from his protracted
imprisonment. He will not even avail
himself of the opportunities Of exercise
afforded him, and he has a space of abou,
twenty by twenty feet he could walk
about in if he chose; but all tb. long
hours Of each weary day he sits at the
barred embrasure of his casemate. suIien.
silent, speechless With his chin alter.
nately resting on one hand and then on
both, he looks unintermittingly through
this opening. Where rest his eyes and
what thoughts stir that 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
impregnable strength; and beyond. the
blue sky and Heeting clouds and wild sea
birds enjoying the boundless freedom OF
the outer air. And mingling with these
sig ghts comes that perpetual, mournful re-.
frain, the sound Of the waves dashing up.
on the beach. Here he is prisoner, and
under what circumstances and under
what terrible charges hanging over him!
Not moment is he lett alone-nol mo-
rnent passes that he is not under the Wig
ilact eye of soldiers. There is no eyress
through those strong iron bars. There
is no escape through this Gordon of mus
kets. here can be NO attempt at rescue
from without. What wonder 10 it that
that form has grown more emaciated,
those checks more sunken. those eyes
more lsstrcus, that brow more wrinkled
his hair winter. his words fewer, his
spirits sunk in perpetual glooml Health
has left him, hope is gone; that proud
spiri. 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 pres n, prison habits and
despondency, loilfnot hre sir aceeks ionger
Yesterday Mr.. Davis requested per-
mission for chaplain to see him. This
Is the second request of this kind he has
made since his arrival He greeted the
chaplain with warmth "It is to You and
TO this book" holding the Bible in his
handy 81 must look" he said, "for con-
ISOLATION now" The chaplain talked to
him Of his spiritual condition, read to him
Passages from ths Bible aud prayed with
him. After the chaplain left Davis ap-
peared to be in much butter spirits than
he has been in for some time past
He reads the Bible morning and even
ing Recently, am told, he protrac,s
these readings much more than at the
commencement OF his imprisonment. He
cnnfSSsas hi- h..li.f IL
fssses to have made it the ruling guide
ot his life / is evident that he does not
fancy Geing confined exclusively to read.
ing the Scriptures, for he sometimes
cliImors for diff.i ent style of htcrature;
but his request in this regard thus far
has not been complied with This refu-
sal to extend his reading privileges, and
not permitting him - write to his wife
or See letters from her. have formed the.
burden of his complaints
If permission was given him to have
all the books he wished he could no. read
mach himself. and for the comfort de-
rived from them would have to RELY
mainly on others reading to him. One
eye is now almost totally blind. and the
other gives indication of rapidly becom-
ing 40 He has complained lately of
seeing obj cts double. He still wears his
goggles during the day time.
Llfc Ia prisou is necessarily monot n :
GUS, With few it has ever been more so
than with Davis. He rises pretty early
usually y at FIVE o'clock in the morning.
He takes bath the first thing, using
salt water at first, and winding up with
fresh water His bathing facilities are
limited. consisting Of a common washtub
half nlied with salt water, wash basin
OF fresh water. coarse towels and soap.
An army blanket he converts into tenn
porary screen, and bathes behind this.
He is not very particular about his toilet,
the fashion of conbing his hair and all
that, but is exact upon the subject of
cleanliness of his und-rclothing, sheets,
towels. &c. Bath and toilet completed
he reads his Bible, and half-past eight
has his breakfast. This is served him
from DR.. Craven's table. The statement
in some of the papers tha, a daughter of
DIR. Craven brings him his food is incor-
rect. A 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 a
few words, or the officer of the guard
may have something to say; for only
these two, excepr his physician and Cra-
ven, and the chap ain, of course. when
he calls, are allowed to speak to him In
conversation he has betrayed an anxie'y
and even determination to discuss the
subjec. of the impossibility of ever con
victing him Of treason. He throws HIM
self back upon the question Of State
rights as his main point of defence. For
some time, finding that all the discussion
was on his own side, he has kept silent
on the subject. Except these Interrupt
tions in the way of conversation, which,
it will be understood, are not daily by
any means, he passes most of his time
till half-past three P. NJ, his dinner hour.
in looking at the window. He smokes
his pipe occasionally. but is no great
smoker. He says that much smoking
makes him too nervous. After dinner he
passes the time as before. He has sup
per at halfpast eight o'clock. and then
directly goes to bed. Hs sleeps pretty
soundly, but more so formerly than lat