EXHIBIT 15
 
                           STATE STREET CORPORATION
 
                INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANT'S ACKNOWLEDGMENT LETTER
 
The Stockholders and Board of Directors
State Street Corporation
 
We are aware of the incorporation of reference in Registration Statements
(Forms S-8 Nos. 333-16979, 333-36409, 33-57359, 33-38672, 33-38671, 33-2882,
2-93157, 2-88641 and 2-68698) and in Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to
Registration Statement (Form S-8 No. 2-68696) pertaining to various stock
option and benefit share plans, in Registration Statements (Form S-3 Nos. 333-
2143, 33-49885) and in Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to Registration
Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-2143) and Registration Statements (Form S-3 Nos.
333-49143, 333- 49143-01, 333-49143-02 and 333-49143-03) pertaining to the
registration of capital securities, debt securities and preferred stock of
State Street Corporation and in Registration Statement (FormS-3 No. 333-16897)
pertaining to the registration of Common Stock of State Street Corporation, of
our report dated July 14, 1998 relating to the unaudited consolidated interim
financial statements of State Street Corporation which are included in its
Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1998.
 
Pursuant to Rule 436(c) of the Securities Act of 1933, our report is not a
part of the registration statements prepared or certified by accountants
within the meaning of Section 7 or 11 of the Securities Act of 1933.
 
                                                              ERNST & YOUNG LLP
 
Boston, Massachusetts
August 10, 1998