362 LAURENS COUNTY. 



was conscious that he could not recover. With each of his 

 family he conversed separately, and to his daughter he present- 

 ed a morocco case, which being opened after his decease, was 

 found to contain a request that if any inscription was placed 

 on his tomb, he should be described as the author of the De- 

 claration of Independence, of the statutes of Virginia for re- 

 ligious freedom, and the father of the University. On Monday 

 before he died, he desired to know what was the day of the 

 month, and upon being told that it was the 3d of July, he ex- 

 pressed a wish to see the fiftieth anniversary of the Declara- 

 tion of Independence, His wish was granted. His last 

 words were, " I resign myself to my God, and my daughter to 

 my country." 



His remains repose at Monticello. A granite obelisk 8 feet 

 high, and a piece of marble, mark the spot where Jefferson 

 lies. The following is the inscription upon his tomb : 



Here lies buried 

 THOMAS JEFFERSON, 



Author of the Declaration of American Independence, 



of the Statutes of Virginia for religious freedom, 



and Father of the University of Virginia. 



Mr. Jefferson's life has been published, and those who de- 

 sire to become familiar with his history will do well to refer 

 to it. 



LAURENS. 



Boundaries, Extent. — This county is bounded on the N. 

 by Wilkinson and Washington, on the E. by Montgomery and 

 Emanuel, on the S. by Montgomery, and on the W. by Pulaski. 

 Laid out in 1807, and portions of it added to Pulaski in 1808-9. 

 It is 32 miles long and 22 wide, containing 704 square miles. 



Rivers, Creeks. — The Oconee, which flows through the 

 county, is the only stream of any considerable size. The creeks, 



