CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
                     111 WEST MONROE STREET
                    CHICAGO, ILLINOIS  60603


                       September 29, 1999




Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois  60532


     Re:          The First Trust Combined Series 272

Gentlemen:

     We  have  served  as  counsel for Nike Securities  L.P.,  as
Sponsor and Depositor of The First Trust Combined Series 272,  in
connection  with  the preparation, execution and  delivery  of  a
Trust  Agreement  dated September 29, 1999 among Nike  Securities
L.P.,  as  Depositor,  The  Chase  Manhattan  Bank,  as  Trustee,
Securities  Evaluation  Service, Inc., as  Evaluator,  and  First
Trust  Advisors L.P., as Portfolio Supervisor, pursuant to  which
the Depositor has delivered to and deposited the Bonds listed  in
Schedule  A to the Trust Agreement with the Trustee and  pursuant
to  which  the  Trustee has issued to or  on  the  order  of  the
Depositor  a  certificate or certificates representing  units  of
fractional  undivided  interest in  and  ownership  of  the  Fund
created under said Trust Agreement.

     In  connection  therewith, we have examined  such  pertinent
records  and  documents  and matters of law  as  we  have  deemed
necessary  in  order  to  enable  us  to  express  the   opinions
hereinafter set forth.

     Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:

      1.   The execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement  and
the  execution and issuance of certificates evidencing the  Units
in the Fund have been duly authorized; and

      2.   the certificates evidencing the Units in the Fund when
duly  executed and delivered by the Depositor and the Trustee  in
accordance   with   the  aforementioned  Trust  Agreement,   will
constitute  valid  and binding obligations of the  Fund  and  the
Depositor in accordance with the terms thereof.

      We  hereby  consent  to the filing of this  opinion  as  an
exhibit  to  the  Registration  Statement  (File  No.  333-22615)
relating  to the Units referred to above, to the use of our  name
and  to  the reference to our firm in said Registration Statement
and in the related Prospectus.

                                      Respectfully submitted,


                                      CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
EFF/erg