1880 (14 July) the sender's copy of a rather terse letter from Col. Charles D. Griffith at Maseru to Sir Gordon Sprigg lamenting the state of affairs in Basutoland, "...I cannot help feeling that we are being cruely treated by you - my request for arms and ammunition etc was pooh poohed in the coolest manner as if I was the most ordinary of alarmists, whereas the history of my thirty two years service will prove to the contrary...The very worst feelings of the Basutos have now been roused and the state of the country cannot better be described than an armed truce...Matters have gone so far now that there is nothing else for it. You must either make them obey the law or withdraw from the Country...I sent you a note I received this morning from Mr Bell the mgte at Advance P. by which you will see the state of affairs up there - all the traders and all the loyal people are looking up to me for advice and protection..."; a valuable document between the Commandant General and the Prime Minister of the Cape Colony