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8

To question four the same law would seem to furnish an appropriate answer. It is a well settled rule of law that in every grant, whether by ordinary deed or by patent, there must be a grantee, as well as a grantor.

Hence, if the patents referred to in said question four were issued in favor of supposed persons, not in fact in existence, they were and are void, and no endorsement upon them could make them any more void than they already are. if, on the other hand, said patents were issued in favor of actual, existing persons -- however obscure or hard to find they may have been and still may be -- the title is nevertheless in them or in their heirs, and no endorsement, which can be made on said patents can affect said title.

I return herewith said letters.

Very respectfully,
Assistant Attorney General.