The Norfolk post. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 1865-1866, 1866-03-24
LATEST GOSSIP ABOUT JEFFER
SON DAVIS.

The Herdtd's correspondent at Fort
ress Monroe, in his letter of the 10th,
gives us the following latest gossip about
the ex- President of the confederacy, and
his companion Mr.. G. G. Clay:
st. Patrick's Day having suggested
the Joint topics of the Irish people and
Fenianian, an officer undertook, l am
told, while escorting Jeff. Davis on St.
Patrick's Day in his daily walk on the
parapet to extract from him his views
of the present Fenian movement. 1t is
not the first time these inquisitOrial
gendarmes have sought to elicit his
opinions on this subject. But this off,
Ger went at it in manner rather ex-
ceeding the usual brusque, roughshod,
not to say boorish, style of some of
them.
"Don't you think the Fenians a
great pOwer?" asked this man of should
er straps.
''Some of the papers say So" replied
Mr.. Davis.
Amt they bound to be successful"
the officer inquired.
$50 very many Say and claim to be-
lieve," Mr.. Davis answered, quietly as
before.
"Bnt Canada is scared, and the Bril-
fish throne is lettering to its foundation
with Just alarm" boldly declared this
evident believer i'm the subject of Fee
nianism.
"Well, what them" asked Mr.. Davis.
"What then! That's just it, contin-
ued this man of penetrative gaze, pur-
suing a great destiny mapped out for
the Fenians. "Why, the Fenians will
soon have it all their own way. They
can take Prince Edwards island and
defy the world"
This climax of position, power and
defiance so clearly and positively pointed
out rs the future of Fenianism, evidently
carried very little conviction to the mind
of Mr.. Davis, judging from his follow
ing 1t with inquiring of the officer If he
had ever heard of the fable of the fly
and the OK. The officer did not pursue
his researches, and confidently believe
that however he may have settled in his
own mind the question Of Fenianism,
he has set down Mr.. Davis as an unprOf-
liable subject for inquisitorial pumping.
/ have the above story as it was told
me. Mr. Davis speaks very freely with
some officers, and with some he main
tains most distant and naughty reti-
cence No one is more quick to discern
and read character. His quick natural
perceptions, his extended experience in
public offices aud careful study of the
world and men, have made him so. An
upstart of an officer, with more shoulder
straps than brains-whose limited
knowledge of military matters would
excite the derision of West Point pie
biau, and whose knowledge of the world
and books does not greatly exceed that
of "Simple SimOn," the famed hero of
one of Mother Goose's melodies-he de-
lights in bringing up with round turn.
I have alluded to the daily walks of
Mr.. Davis. He still, when the weather
admits, keeps up his daily out door ex-
ercise; and, with this and his morning
bath and uniform habits and careful
Diet, though with bill of fare of ex-
tended and choice variety, maintains
good health. Savage fits of petuIance
occasionally possesses him, and then
again he is in temper, word and bear
ing as mild rs a May morning. 1t is still
remarked that he makes very rare allu-
sion to his trial, though why, no one
ventures to ask him. On Congressional
proceedings and on all the great and ex-
citing topics of the day, he is profoundly
observant, and occasionally lets drop re-
marks concerning them, showing an in
terest as permeating and undying in the
affairs of nations and the problem of the
worlds destiny as marked the closing
career of the great conquering Corsican,
or, of Robespierre and RichelieU. He
endorses his prison life with a singular
admixture of stoicsm aud Impotence.
Hope now lights his eye and CLOVIS in
his cheerful, brilliant conversation, and
then his features become frowning, the