To James Madison from Robert Lewis Madison, 7 March 1815
From Robert Lewis Madison
Carlisle March the 7. 1815
Dear Uncle
When I last wrote to you1 I had a rising on my right side, from which, at that time, I did not apprehend any inconvenience. Afterwards it progressed to such a degree as entirely to deprive me of the use of my arm, this prevented me from sooner acknowledging the reception of the letter, which you enclosed me from my Father.2 I am engaged at present in reading Justinian, with notes by judge Cooper, which I beleive is considered the Blackstone of the civil law. I am anxious to pay particular attention to this branch of jurisprudence, as it prevails pretty much, in that section of the Country, where I wish to settle. It is important that a young man should know his destined place of residence during the prosecution of his studies, as he might regulate them to suit those courts, in which he would have to practice. Judge Cooper is well & very attentive to his students, examines them every sunday upon what they read the preceding week. My love to my Aunt. Yr affectionate Nephew
R L. Madison
RC (NN).
1. The latest preceding letter from Robert Lewis Madison to JM that has been found is that of 12 Nov. 1814 ( 8:377).
2. For the letter, see William Madison to JM, 15 Feb. 1815, ibid., 582. No further 1815 correspondence between JM and Robert Lewis Madison has been found, but according to an undated deposition by Thomas Macon (DLC), the president wrote his nephew in the spring of 1815, advising him not to damage his health by too much study and enclosing $500 to fund his extracurricular pursuits. The younger Madison showed the letter to Macon, at the time a fellow Dickinson College student, with the comment that “the old man had been pretily fooled, or words to that effect.” Macon’s deposition was given in connection with Dolly Madison v. Executors of William Madison (for the suit, see 8:628 n. 1).