New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-10
STAFFORD HOUSE BOUGHT
Purchaser Is Not American, De-
spite Statements to Contrary.
Ut MAY BE SIR w. LEVER
Official Announcement Soon
Palace Is Almost One Hun
dred Years Old.
IBy Gable to The Tribune. J


London, Nov. 0.-On the authority OF
the Duke of Sutherland's solicitors,
Messrs. Taylor, Son & Humbert, 1t can
be positively stated that Stafford
House, though sold, has not been pur-
chased by an American, as has been
so persistently stated here In the last
few weeks.
I'VE hope to issue an official state
ment early next week giving the name
OF the purchaser and the purposes for
which the house will be used said Mr..
Humbert TO the Tribunes correspond
ent yesterday. The latter part OF the
sentence is significant because II
strongly substantiates the belief preva-
lent in some quarters that Sir William
Lever. who has made a vast fortune
out of soap, is the new owner.
IL was at first believed that the occu-
pancy of this palatial residence, which
is the finest in London next TO the
royal palaces, by Sir William Levec
would result In its becoming a new
centre Of social and political activities,
but II the British soap magnate has
really acquired II there is a strong
likelihood that 1t will become store
house OF British art.
Sir William Lever has a house at
Hampstead. but this is overcrowde1
with his accumulation of pictures and
other art treasures, and IL has long
been known that he is DESTROYS Of find
ing n more suitable Judgement for his
priceless possessions.
At all events, the latest announce
ment effectively disposes Of the state
ments which at various times have
credited the American Ambassador.
with being the purchaser. Stafford
House is crown property. and II Is no
secret that some time before his death
King Edward wished TO obtain posses
sion Of it for the use of queen Alex
andra.
The magnihcence OF the building may
be realized from the oft-quotcd remark
of the late Queen Victoria, who on the
occasion Of a visit there said TO tho
hostess: Il have come over from our
house TO your palace
Though the then Marquis Of Stafford
found the money Stafford House was
built about 1924 for Frederick Duke
Of York, second son OF George III, but
the duke died $3.50 without having
taken possession, and the crown lease
was sold 10 the second Duke Of Suther-
land grandfather Of the present fourth
duke I'm 1871 under a special act OF
Parliament for 100000, which was
barely the cost Of it's construction. Thu
present lease from the crown has an
other fourteen years TO run. and the
ground rent alone amounts TO 5000
Since Sir Charles Barry, the famous
architect, added another story bv IN
structions from the Duke OF Suther-
land, Stafford House has been famous
for its stately height which gives the
interior ample proportions. II is quad
rangular I'm shape, and has perfect
frontage on all sides. The feature OF
the principal front is portico Of eight
Corinthian columns, but the exterior is
nothing to the interior sp'endors, the
chief OF which Is n wonderful white
marble staircase, which leads 10 the
state apartments comprising dining
and drawing rooms and an extensive
picture gallery, 100 feet in length.
Even this spacious apartment, how
ever, Is insufficient TO hold all the
works Of the old masters with which
Stafford House is densely packed ana
i'm all the main rooms OF the corridors
are found incompatible examples OF
the works OF Titan, Murillo, Rubens,
Vandyck and Rembrandt, I'm addition
TO such English masterpieces as Ho-
garths DISTRESSED Poet" Reynolds
portrait Of Mrs. Siddons as the Tragic
Muse, Gainsboroughs blue Boy" and
THE Cottage Door" and famous plct-
ures by Turner Cotman, Bennington
and Crome.