'A casket to enclose pictorial gems': in 1838 James Morrison, one of the richest men in England commissioned the architect J.B. Papworth to complete, decorate and furnish Basildon Park in Berkshire as a setting for his art collection. It was the culmination of a long relationship between architect and patron, but, as Caroline Dakers explains, it ended unhappily

Apollo, April, 2004 by Caroline Dakers

As I have neither a proper plan of the estate shewing the nature of the ground, nor any assistance at Basildon, I cannot I dare say do all that you require of me. The works are done without the personal control that only can [sic] enable me to try to fulfil your wishes, and in doing without this I find my reputation in jeopardy. (43)

Papworth was also engaged by other clients, including the tradesman, William Leaf, at Park Hill Streatham and Richard Bingham, third Earl of Lucan. (44)

Papworth's last surviving letter to Morrison was written on 21 March 1844. There is no hint of the dispute which would end their long relationship, but by July C.R. Cockerell was at Basildon sketching his idea for a new stable block. It would appear that Papworth had been sacked.

Morrison became probably the richest commoner in the nineteenth century through a number of skills. His letters and diaries reveal a man who scrutinised every bill, who calculated his personal income and expenditure on a weekly basis. He went to law whenever he believed he was being cheated. Morrison calculated Papworth's total fee (a 5 percent commission) should have been 2,500 [pounds sterling] but that he had probably paid him only 2,000 [pounds sterling]. In response to Papworth's attorney demanding fair compensation for work completed, Morrison offered, in June 1845, 1000 guineas. Papworth refused. In April 1846, after scrutinising the accounts supplied by both sides, Sergeant Manning, counsel on the western circuit, declared against Papworth. (45) The following year Papworth died.

My thanks to the descendants of James Morrison for permission to quote from the Morrison Archive. The only biography of Morrison to be published is Richard Garry, Portrait era Merchant Prince, Northallerton, 1976. l would also like to thank Central St Martins College of Art and Design for supporting my research; the Arts and Humanities Research Board for a 'changing places' research grant to work in the Drawings Collection of the RIBA; the Paul Mellon Foundation, for a grant to study at Basildon; and the staff of the National Trust at Basildon for their assistance during my visit.

(1) See W. Rubinstein, Men Property, London, 1981.

(2) The only published work on J.B. Papworth is Wyatt Papworth, John B. Papworth, Architect to the King of Wurtemburg: a brief record of his life and works, London, 1879. The relationship between Papworth and Morrison was complicated. Papworth's practice included commissions for a large number of shop-keepers, manufacturers and artists who were at the same time engaged by Papworth to supply goods for Morrison. Galloway, for example, who brought Papworth and Morrison together, employed Papworth to work on his factory in Smithfield and borrowed money from Morrison. Some, like the wine merchants Thompson and Fearon on Holborn Hill, were personal friends of Morrison; other clients were Morrison's business associates, including his partner George Crow and American associate John Cryder. In addition, Morrison was one of founders of the Government School of Design; Papworth became the first part-time director from 1836-37.