'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

(3) Morrison Archive (this is a private collection, in the possession of the descendants of James Morrison). For further information on Morrison's solicitor William Ashurst see J. Slinn, Ashurst Morris Crisp: A Radical Firm, Carnbridge, 1997.

(4) Papworth, op. cit, p. 79.

(5) See Charles Pugh, Basildon Polk, London, 2002; Clive Williams, Basildon, Berkshire, Reading, 1994,

(6) For sale by auction at the Mart near the Bank of England, 23 September 1829.

(7) Robert Blake, Disraeli, London, 1969, p 96.

(8) Ibid., p. 141.

(9) Disraeli and Morrison did not face one another in parliament until 1840. Morrison had first entered the house in 1830 as a member of the radical Whig group led by Joseph Hume, but lost his seat in the 1837 election which brought Disraeli into parliament.

(10) Benjamin Disraeli, Vivian Grey, London, 1853 (first published 1826-27), p. 16.

(11) His wealth comprised 300,000 [pounds sterling] capital invested in Fore Street, a portfolio of stocks and shares, mortgages (including 106,000 [pounds sterling] loan the Marquess of Headfort) and property.

(12) Benjamin Disraeli, Henrietta Temple: A Love Story, London, 1853 (first published 1837), pp. 97, 95.

(13) Morrison Archive, 28 November 1840.

(14) Papworth designed a new marble floor which was installed by his mason Benjamin Nicholson at a cost of 220 [pounds sterling].

(15) As the second son, Alfred was left Fonthill, further land, stocks and shares valued at 750,000 [pounds sterling]. Charles inherited Basildon, Upper Harley Street, the Fore Street business, Islay and further lands, stocks and shares valued at 1 million [pounds sterling].

(15) Morrison was appointed Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire in 1840 through the patronage of the 3rd Marquess of Lansdowne.

(17) George McHardy, Catalogue of the Drawings Collection of the Royal Institute of British Architects Office of J.B. Papworth, London, 1979, p 4.

(18) Papworth, op. cit., p. 91.

(19) Letter from Papworth to Morrison, 25 December 1841, Morrison Archive.

(20) Letter from Papworth to Morrison, 7 February 1843, Morrison Archive.

(21) Papworth, op. cit., p. 91.

(22) Letter from Papworth to Morrison, 28 November 1843, Morrison Archive.

(23) Papworth, op., cit., pp 57-58.

(24) 'I sold this picture on the day of the opening for one hundred and fifty guineas, including the frame, to Mr Morrison', C.R. Leslie RA, Memoirs of the Life of John Constable, London, 1951, p. 121.

(25) Morrison bought The swan's nest at the Royal Academy in 1825 and Pope's villa at Twickenham (for 205 guineas) at the De Tabley sale, Hill Street, 7 July 1827.

(26) Morrison met Wilkie in Rome during his 1827 European tour.

(27) Morrison owned a copy of Wilkie Collins's memoir of his father William.

(28) Letter from Turner to Morrison 20 May 1835 (Morrison Archive): 'MW Turner presents his respects to Mr & Mrs Morrison and he will with very great pleasure wait upon them on the 30 of May (Saturday week) at 1/4 before 7 o'clock'. Letter from Turner to Morrison n.d. (Morrison Archive): 'Mr Turner begs to present his thanks to Mr Morrison for the kind invitation to Basildon in the course of this month or the next and of which Mr T. will avail himself of, and hopes he may bring his fishing tackle'.