Returned to town this morning with Mr. Brooks. Found nothing from Washington relating to this marriage and therefore sat down and wrote a letter to John1 declining his invitation and giving my reasons. I am afraid that it will be subject to misconstruction and productive of future coldness but it was impossible for me to avoid it. Read Blackstone and Hutchinson during the day and in the evening Cicero and Executive Record. Thus returning to my old habits after a recess occasioned by the expectation of absence and the separation of Richardson.