To Alexander Hamilton from John B. Graves, 31 May 1803
From John B. Graves1
New York, May 31, 1803. States that he is acting on behalf of George Scriba2 who wishes to procure a mortgage in Europe on land in New York State. Requests Hamilton’s opinion on “whether European citizens can hold in their own right a mortgage on real Estate and likewise in case of purchase, if they can hold real Estate in their own name and dispose of it.”
ALS, Hamilton Papers, Library of Congress.
1. Graves was a New York City merchant.
2. Scriba was a New York City merchant and land speculator.