Washington's letter of thanks to the noted American inventor and instrument maker, David Rittenhouse, who had made a set of spectacles (one for distance and one for reading) for the General. "The Spectacles suit my Eyes extremely well," Washington wrote, "as I am persuaded the Reading Glasses also will when I get more accustomed to the use of them - at present, I find some difficulty in coming at the proper Focus - but when I do obtain it, they magnify perfectly, and shew those letters very distinctly which at first appear like a mist blended together & confused." Three weeks later the reading glasses would be used to great effect when Washington, in attempting to quell a brewing mutiny of officers at Newburgh, pulled them from his pocket and said "Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown gray in your service and now find myself growing blind." Partial red wax seal remains on address leaf. Gift of George Miller Chester, Jr. (Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Connecticut) in honor of his great-great-great-great grandfather, Col. John Chester (Yale 1766), Sixth Regiment, Connecticut State Troops in Continental Service, an Original Member of the Society of the Cincinnati. [Part of the George Miller Chester, Jr. (CT SOC) Collection of Historic General Washington Documents]. Full transcription in case file.