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                                                           Exhibit 16.14

[Letterhead of
 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP]




                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Statement of
Additional Information constituting part of this registration statement under
the Securities Act of 1933 on Form N-14 (the "Registration Statement") of our
reports dated February 15, 2001, relating to the financial statements and
financial highlights appearing in the December 31, 2000 Annual Reports of State
Street Research Tax-Exempt Fund and the State Street Research New York Tax-Free
Fund ("Funds") (each a series of State Street Research Tax-Exempt Trust), which
reports are also referenced in the Prospectus/Proxy Statement. We also consent
to the reference to us under the heading "Independent Accountants" in the
Statement of Additional Information dated May 1, 2001, for the Funds
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.





/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Boston, Massachusetts
October 5, 2001