leus of the restored Library of Congress, which was being built up again after itsdestruction in the British burning of Washington in the War of 1812. However,immediately afterward, Jefferson set about buying a new collection.Political differences had long ago broken up the friendship between Jefferson andJohn Adams. Now, a mutual friend, Dr. Benjamin Rush, brought about a reconciliation.Jefferson and Adams began a lively correspondence that touched on many subjects. "Icannot write volumes on a single sheet," Adams wrote plaintively, "but these letters ofyours require volumes from me."Jefferson and his friend Adams, both of whom had played such great parts in thewinning of independence, died on Independence Day, July 4, 1826. Jefferson leftdetailed instructions for his burial in the graveyard of his estate. A simple monument wasto mark his resting place. Thomas Jefferson specified that the monument was to be madeof coarse stone so that "no one might be tempted hereafter to destroy it for the value ofthe materials." Thomas Jefferson wrote his own epitaph:Here was buriedThomas Jefferson Author of the Declaration of AmericanIndependenceOf the Statute of Virginia for ReligiousFreedomAnd Father of the University of VirginiaThese achievements were to be inscribed on the monument, and "not a wordmore ... because by these, as testimonials that I have lived, I wish most to beremembered."Jefferson's wishes were carried out, but vandals later overturned and broke thestone. A careful reproduction now marks Jefferson's grave.Sources:Microsoft Encartahttp://encarta.msn.com/www.whitehouse.gov...
