The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1865-07-19
JEFF. DAVIS.
HIS HEALTH GREATLY IMPAIRED.
-~~-~-~~~~~~~-~-~~~---
He Is Not Expected to Live
Long.
~~>>~~>N~N1-~~~O~~>~~~~~>
One Eye Almost Totally Blind and the
Other Much Impaired.
so@No~so~~~~>>-~o>~o>~~>~
Full Details of His Habits in
Prison.
The News Of the Execution Of the Assassins
Communicated to Him, and Its Effect.
CONDITION OF CLAY AND mitchell,
&C., &e., 10.


FoRrRsss MoSRos, July II, 1865.
From all the sources Of information I able to COM
mand there doubt JEFF Davis II slowly but surely
declining in health from his protracted imprisonment
He will not avail himself Of the opportunities Of
exercise afforded him, and he has space Of about
twenty by twenty feet he could walk about in If he
chose but oil the long hours Of each weary day he sits
the barred embrasure Of his casemate suen SILENT
speechless With his chin alternately resting on one
hand and then both, he looks unintermittingly
through this opening. Where rest his eyes and what
thoughts stir that brain one can toll Before
him the bay and the passing ships, and the
Rip Raps growing each day into Q wondrous work OF
impregnable strength and beyond, the blue sky and
1eetng clouds and wild birds enjoying the boundess
freedom Of the outer air. And mingling with these
sights that perpetual mournfu refrain, the sound
Of the dashing upon the beach Here he Is prs
oner and what circumstances and under what ter
rble charges hanging himl Not q moment is he
left alonenot moment passes that he " not under the
viglan eye Of soldiers. There is no egress through
those strong iron bars There escape through this
Gordon Of muskets There be no attempt at rescue
from without What wonder Ii II that that form has
grown emaciaed those cheeks more sunken those
eyes lustrous that brow more wrnkled-his hair
whittier, his words fewer his spirits sunk in perpetual
gloomS Health has left him, hope is gone; that proud
fancy sketch have been told to-day that JEFF. Davis
II he keeps up present prison habits and dependency
OiH not Livc six ceeks hnger
A CHAPLAIN ATTENDS mM.
Yesterday Mr. Davis requested permission for chap
lain him. This Is the second request Of this kind
he has made since his arrival Chaplain Kerfoot was
sent to his cell. He greeted the chaplain with warmth
at you and to this book" holdng the Bible in his
hand 81 must look" he said or consolation now The
chaplain talked to him Of his spiritual condition read TO
him passages from the Bible and prayed win him. After
the chaplain left Davis appeared to be In much better
spirits than he has been in for time past
He reads the Bible morning and evening. Recently
told he protracts these readings much than
the commencement Of his Imprisonment He concsses his
belief in the Bible and processes have made IL the
ruling guide of his life IL is eviden, THAT he does not
fancy being confined exclusively reading the Scriptures
for he sometimes camors for different style of tcrature
but his request in this regard thus far has not been
complied with This refusal to extend his reading
privileges and not permitting him to write to his wife
letters from her. have formed the burden OF his
complaints.
EyEsIGur GROWING MORE DEFEcriv.
Ifpermisson given him TO have all the books he
wished he could not read much himself, and for the
comfort derived from them would have TO rely mainly
ON others reading to him. One eye IL now almost TO-
tally blind and the other gives indication of rapidly
becoming So He has complained lately OF seeing OBJ
jects double He still his goggles during the day
time
Life in prison necessarily With few II has
been than with Davis Herises pretty carly,
usually at i've o'clock in the morning. He takes bath
the first thing using salt water rs and winding with
first watcr His bathing facilities limited consisting
nj half Wit salt wal "A
wash basin Of fresh water towels and soap. An
army blanket he converts into a temporary screen, and
bahcs behind this He is not very particular about his
toilet the fashion Of combng his har and all that but
il upon the subject OF cleanliness OF his under
clothing, sheets, towels &c. Bath and toilet completed
he reads his Bible and at half past eight has his break
fast This Is served him from DR. Cravcn's table The
statement OF the papers that daughter Of Dr
Craven brings him his food is incorrect soldier brings
his meals 10 him. Tea, toast and an egg or two, or
broiled steak, usually make up his breakfast His ap
petite IL very variable. General Miles may call In 70
him and pass few words or the officer Of the
guard may have something TO say; for only these
two except his physician and Craven, and the
chaplain, Of course wncn he calls, allowed 10
speak TO him In conversation he has betrayed
anxiety and even discuss the subject Of
the mpossblity OF ever convictng him Of treason He
throws himself back upon the question Of State rights
his main point Of defence. For some time finding that
all the discussion was on his own side, he has kept
silent the subject Except these interruptions In the
way Of conversation which, will be understood not
daily by any means he passes most OF his time t half
past three r 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 Amer dinner he passes the time as before
He has supper at half past eight o'clock, and then
directly goes bed He sleeps pretty soundly but
formerly than lattcrly At first the light kept burn
ing In the all night troubled him. but he has be-
used to It and makes complaint on the subject
now, perhaps he knows Il would do good II he did
COMPLAINTS ABOUT rnK GUARD.
In previous letters have described Mr. Davis quarters
and the guard placed him. Both continue the
first He has been urgent TO have the guard In his
own room, the OF the cascmate-two kept
constantly In both front and back and an officer
with them-removed and kept in the front room. But
his ontreaty Of avail Next he desired that the
guard In his might be allowed to stand instead
Of being kept walking, but here too his request has not
been complied with.
EXECUTION OF ruE ASSASSINATION covsrrnAroRs
There every TO believe that the execution OF
the assassination consp rators in Washington has bcon
communicated to Davis within tho past three or four
days II is certain that great and marked change has
come him. and to his undoubted knowledge OF this
execution tho change Is attributed His food oil the
best quality he has abundance of pure air and there is
no special reason otherwise accounting for present
gloomness and decreasing health.
CONDITION ctAY
Every day Mr. Clay IL improving In heal.h. He still
takes his morning hours walk, and is in greatly i'm
nxo,oa .h,.,c.i ico,ditIon on account of IL han.