Shanks writes his friend Ned about local political doings, his support of the Mexican War and other news about his life and activities in Wooster.

 

“Dear Ned,

 

I received your letter, written on the Politics of the day principally, you forgot to tell me any of the news about the good people of Canton – I will drop over some Saturday and remain until Monday. I cannot possibly leave just now as I am out on business through the country almost every day – but I will try and give you a call soon. – You are quite a politician my young sir – but you forgot to notice this fact about “Hard and Soft” and it is, that the late State convention on the 8^th convention said nothing at all about the currency compared with their proceedings on a former occasion and even the last convention wouldn’t touch such a pitiful trickster as David Todd! As to the war question you are a perfect little tory – you and old John Saxton ought to have your heads shaved and your ears pinned back!! I have made several war speeches and intend keeping at it as long as I can find a single rat-tail Whig mean enough to oppose his country -  John Boots tells me most of the news items about Canton – he calls down occasionally and gathers up the sayings and doings of the place. I see by the Canton papers that Cordelia Mitchell is married to Mr. Lattimer you must tell Kate to quit breaking Lattimer’s grave stones or I will take it up! I am first lieutenant of a military company called the Wooster Cadets – next 22^nd we are to have a tremendous display – drums and fifes, and flags and all that sort o’ thing – Taneyhill on parade is nothing to seeing Shanks in full regimentals! … tell Rosanna that I have some music for her which I will send at the first opportunity- … I received an invitation to a flapdoodle rapsticks of a party and if I intend going, I must quit scribbling and go to blacking boots, fixing my whiskers &c &c … Shanks”