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, 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 performance share plans,
in Registration Statements (Form S-3 Nos. 333-2143, 33-49885) pertaining to the
registration of debt securities and preferred stock of State Street Corporation
and in Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-16897) pertaining to the
registration of Common Stock of State Street Boston Corporation, of our report
dated April 14, 1997 relating to the unaudited consolidated interim financial
statements of State Street Corporation which are included in its Form 10-Q for
the quarter ended March 31, 1997.

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
May 12, 1997