EXHIBIT (4)(a)
                                                                      EXHIBIT A
                                    AGREEMENT
                                       AND
                             PLAN OF REORGANIZATION


     THIS AGREEMENT AND PLAN OF REORGANIZATION  ("Agreement") is made as of this
16th  day of  August,  1999,  by and  among  Eaton  Vance  Investment  Trust,  a
Massachusetts  business trust ("Investment Trust") on behalf of its series Eaton
Vance  Connecticut  Limited  Maturity  Municipals  Fund ("State Fund") and Eaton
Vance National Limited Maturity Municipals Fund ("National Fund").

                                   WITNESSETH

     WHEREAS, Investment Trust is registered under the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended (the "1940 Act") as an open-end  management  investment company
authorized to issue an unlimited number of shares of beneficial interest without
par value in one or more series  (such as National  Fund),  and the  Trustees of
Investment  Trust  have  divided  the  shares  of State and  National  Fund into
multiple classes,  including Class A and Class B shares ("State Fund Shares" and
"National Fund Shares");

     WHEREAS,  State Fund  currently  invests  all of its assets in  Connecticut
Limited  Maturity  Municipals  Portfolio (the "Limited  Portfolio"),  a New York
trust  registered  under  the  1940  Act as an  open-end  management  investment
company;

     WHEREAS,  the National Fund currently invests all of its assets in National
Limited Maturity  Municipals  Portfolio (the "National  Portfolio"),  a New York
trust  registered  under  the  1940  Act as an  open-end  management  investment
company;

     WHEREAS, Boston Management and Research, a wholly owned subsidiary of Eaton
Vance Management, serves as investment adviser to the Portfolios; and

     WHEREAS,  Investment  Trust  desires to provide for the  reorganization  of
State Fund through the acquisition by National Fund of substantially  all of the
assets of State Fund in  exchange  for  National  Fund  Shares in the manner set
forth herein;

     NOW,  THEREFORE,  in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained,
the parties hereto agree as follows:

1.   DEFINITIONS

     1.1  The term "1933 Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     1.2  The term "1934 Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
          as amended.

     1.3  The  term  "Agreement"  shall  mean  this  Agreement  and  Plan of
          Reorganization.

     1.4  The term  "Assumed  Liabilities"  shall mean all  liabilities,
          expenses,  costs,  charges and receivables of State Fund as of
          the Close of  Trading on the New York  Stock  Exchange  on the
          Valuation Date.



     1.5  The term "Business Day" shall mean any day that is not a Saturday or
          Sunday and that the New York Stock Exchange is open.

     1.6  The term  "Close of Trading on the NYSE"  shall mean the close of
          regular trading, which is usually 4:00 p.m. Eastern time.

     1.7  The term "Closing" shall mean the closing of the transaction
          contemplated by this Agreement.

     1.8  The term "Closing Date" shall mean the first Monday  following
          receipt of all  necessary  regulatory  approvals and the final
          adjournment of the meeting of State Fund shareholders at which
          this  Agreement  is  considered,  or such other date as may be
          agreed by the parties on which the Closing is to take place.

     1.9  The term  "Commission"  shall  mean  the  Securities  and  Exchange
          Commission.

     1.10 The term "Custodian" shall mean Investors Bank & Trust Company.

     1.11 The term "Delivery Date" shall mean the date contemplated by Section
          3.3 of this Agreement.

     1.12 The term "Investment Trust N-14" shall mean Investment Trust's
          registration  statement on Form N-14, as may be amended,  that
          describes the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement and
          the National Fund Shares.

     1.13 The term  "National  Investment  Trust  N-1A"  shall  mean the
          registration statement, as amended, on Form N-1A of Investment
          Trust  with  respect  to  National  Fund in effect on the date
          hereof or on the Closing Date, as the context may require.

     1.14 The term "NYSE" shall mean the New York Stock Exchange.

     1.15 The term "Proxy Statement" shall mean the combined  prospectus
          and proxy statement  furnished to the State Fund  shareholders
          in connection with this transaction.

     1.16 The  term  "Securities  List"  shall  mean  the  list of those
          securities  (and other assets) owned by Investment  Trust,  on
          behalf of State Fund, on the Delivery Date.

     1.17 The  term  "State   Investment  Trust  N-1A"  shall  mean  the
          registration statement, as amended, on Form N-1A of Investment
          Trust with  respect to State Fund in effect on the date hereof
          or on the Closing Date, as the context may require.

     1.18 The term  "Valuation  Date" shall mean the Business Day  preceding
          the Closing Date.

2.   TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF ASSETS

     2.1  Reorganization of State Fund. At the Closing, Investment Trust
          shall  transfer all of the assets of State Fund  received from
          the State  Portfolio,  and assign all Assumed  Liabilities  to
          National Fund, and National Fund shall acquire such assets and
          shall  assume  such  Assumed   Liabilities  upon  delivery  by
          National Fund to State Fund on the Closing Date of Class A and
          Class  B  National  Fund  Shares  (including,  if  applicable,

                                       -2-



          fractional  shares)  having an aggregate net asset value equal
          to the  value  of the  assets  so  transferred,  assigned  and
          delivered,  less the Assumed  Liabilities,  all determined and
          adjusted  as  provided  in Section  2.2.  National  Fund shall
          transfer such assets and liabilities to National  Portfolio on
          the Closing Date.

     2.2  Computation of Net Asset Value.  The net asset value per share
          of the National Fund Shares and the net value of the assets of
          State Fund subject to this Agreement  shall,  in each case, be
          determined  as of the  Close  of  Trading  on the  NYSE on the
          Valuation  Date,  after the  declaration  and  payment  of any
          dividend  on that date.  The net asset  value of the  National
          Fund  Shares  shall be computed in the manner set forth in the
          National Investment Trust Form N-1A.

               In   determining   the   value   of  the   securities
          transferred  by State Fund to  National  Fund,  each  security
          shall be priced in accordance with the policies and procedures
          described  in the  National  Investment  Trust N-1A.  All such
          computations  shall be subject to review, in the discretion of
          Investment  Trust's  Treasurer,  by  Deloitte  &  Touche  LLP,
          Investment Trust auditors.

3.   CLOSING DATE, VALUATION DATE AND DELIVERY

     3.1  Closing  Date.  The  Closing  shall be at the offices of Eaton
          Vance, The Eaton Vance Building,  255 State Street, Boston, MA
          02109  immediately  prior  to the  opening  of  Eaton  Vance's
          business on the Closing Date. All acts taking place at Closing
          shall be deemed to take place  simultaneously  as of 9:00 a.m.
          Eastern  time on the Closing Date unless  otherwise  agreed in
          writing by the parties.

     3.2  Valuation Date.  Pursuant to Section 2.2, the net value of the
          assets  of State  Fund and the net  asset  value  per share of
          National  Fund shall be  determined as of the Close of Trading
          on the NYSE on the Valuation  Date,  after the declaration and
          payment of any dividend on that date. The stock transfer books
          of  Investment  Trust  with  respect  to  State  Fund  will be
          permanently  closed,  and sales of State Fund Shares  shall be
          suspended,  as of the close of business of Investment Trust on
          the Valuation Date. Redemption requests thereafter received by
          Investment Trust with respect to State Fund shall be deemed to
          be  redemption   requests  for  National  Fund  Shares  to  be
          distributed to shareholders of State Fund under this Agreement
          provided that the transactions  contemplated by this Agreement
          are consummated.

               In the event  that  trading on the NYSE or on another
          exchange  or  market  on  which  securities  held by  State or
          National  Portfolio,  shall be disrupted on the Valuation Date
          so that, in the judgment of the Trust,  accurate  appraisal of
          the net assets of State Fund to be  transferred  hereunder  or
          the assets of National  Fund is  impracticable,  the Valuation
          Date shall be postponed until the first Business Day after the
          day on which trading on such exchange or in such market shall,
          in the  judgment  of the  Trust,  have  been  resumed  without
          disruption. In such event, the Closing Date shall be postponed
          until one Business Day after the Valuation Date.

     3.3  Delivery of Securities  and other  Assets.  After the close of
          business on the Valuation Date,  Investment  Trust shall issue
          instructions providing for the delivery of all securities held
          on behalf of State Fund together with other non-cash assets of
          State  Fund to the  Custodian  to be held for the  account  of
          National Fund, effective as of the Closing.  National Fund may
          inspect such  securities at the offices of the Custodian prior
          to the Valuation Date.

                                        -3-


               Securities  so delivered  shall be in proper form for
          transfer in such  condition as to  constitute a good  delivery
          thereof,  in accordance with the custom of brokers,  and shall
          be  accompanied  by all necessary  stock  transfer  stamps (or
          other  documentation  evidencing  payment of local taxes),  if
          any,  or a check for the  appropriate  purchase  price of such
          stamps  (or  payment  of such  local  tax).  Unless  otherwise
          directed  by  Investment  Trust in  writing  on or before  the
          Delivery Date, cash held by and to be delivered,  on behalf of
          State Fund,  shall be  delivered on the Closing Date and shall
          be in the form of wire transfer in Federal  Funds,  payable to
          the order of the account of National Fund at the Custodian.  A
          confirmation  for the National  Fund Shares  registered in the
          name of State Fund shall be delivered on the Closing Date.

4.   STATE FUND DISTRIBUTIONS AND TERMINATION

          As soon as  reasonably  practicable  after the  Closing  Date,
     Investment Trust shall pay or make provisions for the payment of all of
     the debts and taxes of State Fund and distribute all remaining  assets,
     if any, to shareholders of State Fund, and State Fund shall  thereafter
     be  terminated  under  Massachusetts  law.  The State  Portfolio  shall
     liquidate and deregister under the 1940 Act.

          At, or as soon as may be  practicable  following  the  Closing
     Date,  Investment Trust on behalf of State Fund shall instruct National
     Fund as to the amount of the pro rata  interest of each of State Fund's
     shareholders  as of the close of business on the  Valuation  Date (such
     shareholders  to be  certified  as  such  by  the  transfer  agent  for
     Investment  Trust),  to be registered on the books of National Fund, in
     full and  fractional  National  Fund  Shares,  in the name of each such
     shareholder, and National Fund agrees promptly to transfer the National
     Fund Shares then  credited to the account of State Fund on the books of
     National Fund to open accounts on the share records of National Fund in
     the  names  of  State  Fund   shareholders   in  accordance  with  said
     instruction.  Each State Fund  shareholder  shall receive shares of the
     corresponding class of National Fund to the class of State Fund held by
     such  shareholder.  All issued and outstanding  State Fund Shares shall
     thereupon be canceled on the books of Investment  Trust.  National Fund
     shall have no obligation to inquire as to the  correctness  of any such
     instruction,  but shall, in each case,  assume that such instruction is
     valid, proper and correct.

5.   STATE FUND SECURITIES

          On the  Delivery  Date,  State  Portfolio  shall  deliver  the
     Securities  List and tax records.  Such records shall be made available
     by State  Portfolio  prior to the Closing  Date for  inspection  by the
     Treasurer  (or his  designee)  and the  auditors of  National  Fund and
     National  Portfolio  upon  reasonable   request.   Notwithstanding  the
     foregoing,   it  is  expressly  understood  that  State  Portfolio  may
     hereafter  until the close of business on the  Valuation  Date sell any
     securities  owned by it in the  ordinary  course of its  business as an
     open-end, management investment company.

6.   LIABILITIES AND EXPENSES

          National  Fund shall  acquire all  liabilities  of State Fund,
     whether known or unknown, or contingent or determined. Investment Trust
     will  discharge all known  liabilities  of State Fund, so far as may be
     possible, prior to the Closing Date. State Fund and National Fund shall
     bear their  respective  expenses,  in connection with carrying out this
     Agreement.

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7.   STATE AND NATIONAL PORTFOLIO REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

          Each of the State and National  Portfolio  hereby  represents,
     warrants and agrees as follows:

     7.1  Legal Existence.  The Portfolio is a trust duly organized and validly
          existing under the laws of the State of New York.

     7.2  Registration  under 1940 Act. The Portfolio is duly registered
          with  the  Commission  as an  open-end  management  investment
          company  under the 1940 Act and such  registration  is in full
          force and effect.

     7.3  Financial Statements. The statement of assets and liabilities,
          schedule of portfolio  investments  and related  statements of
          operations  and  changes in net assets  dated  March 31,  1999
          (audited)  fairly  present  the  financial  condition  of  the
          Portfolio  as  of  said  date  in  conformity  with  generally
          accepted accounting principles.

     7.4  No  Material  Events.  There are no legal,  administrative  or
          other  proceedings  pending,  or to its knowledge,  threatened
          against  the  Portfolio  which  would  materially  affect  its
          financial condition.

     7.5  Requisite  Approvals.  The  execution  and  delivery  of  this
          Agreement   and   the   consummation   of   the   transactions
          contemplated  herein have been  authorized by the  Portfolio's
          Board of  Trustees  by vote  taken at a meeting  of such Board
          duly called and held on August 16, 1999.

     7.6  No  Material  Violations.   The  Portfolio  is  not,  and  the
          execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not
          result,  in a  material  violation  of  any  provision  of its
          Declaration  of Trust or By-Laws,  as each may be amended,  of
          the  Portfolio  or of any  agreement,  indenture,  instrument,
          contract, lease or other undertaking to which it is a party or
          by which it is bound.

     7.7  Taxes and Related Filings. Except where failure to do so would
          not have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  Portfolio,  the
          Portfolio  has filed and will file or obtain valid  extensions
          of filing dates for all required federal,  state and local tax
          returns  and  reports  for  all  taxable   years  through  and
          including  the taxable year ended March 31, 1999,  and no such
          filings or reports are currently being audited or contested by
          the  Internal   Revenue  Service  or  state  or  local  taxing
          authority and all federal, state and local income,  franchise,
          property,  sales,  employment  or  other  taxes  or  penalties
          payable  have  been paid or will be paid,  so far as due.  The
          Portfolio  is  classified  as a  partnership  for  federal tax
          purposes,  has  qualified as such for each taxable year of its
          operations, and will qualify as such as of the Closing Date.

     7.8  Good and Marketable  Title. On the Closing Date, the Portfolio
          will have good and  marketable  title to its assets,  free and
          clear of all liens, mortgages, pledges, encumbrances, charges,
          claims and  equities  whatsoever,  and full  right,  power and
          authority  to sell,  assign,  transfer and deliver such assets
          and shall deliver such assets to State Fund.  Upon delivery of
          such assets, State Fund will receive good and marketable title
          to such  assets,  free  and  clear  of all  liens,  mortgages,
          pledges, encumbrances,

                                   -5-


          charges, claims,  restrictions (including such restrictions as
          might  arise  under the 1933 Act) and  equities,  except as to
          adverse claims under Article 8 of the Uniform  Commercial Code
          of which National Fund has notice and necessary  documentation
          at or prior to the time of delivery.

     7.9  Books and Records.  The Portfolio has maintained all records
          required under Section 31 of the  1940 Act and rules thereunder.

8.   INVESTMENT TRUST REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES

          Investment  Trust,  on  behalf of State  and  National  Funds,
     hereby represents, warrants and agrees as follows:

     8.1  Legal  Existence.  Investment  Trust is a business  trust duly
          organized  and  validly   existing   under  the  laws  of  the
          Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Each of State Fund and National
          Fund  is  a  validly  existing  series  of  Investment  Trust.
          Investment Trust is authorized to issue an unlimited number of
          shares of beneficial interest of National Fund.

     8.2  Registration   under  1940  Act.   Investment  Trust  is  duly
          registered as an open-end management  investment company under
          the  1940  Act and  such  registration  is in full  force  and
          effect.

     8.3  Financial Statements.  The statement of assets and liabilities
          and the  schedule  of  portfolio  investments  and the related
          statements  of  operations  and changes in net assets of State
          Fund and National  Fund dated March 31, 1999,  fairly  present
          the financial  condition of State Fund and National Fund as of
          said dates in conformity  with generally  accepted  accounting
          principles.

     8.4  No  Contingent  Liabilities.  There  are no  known  contingent
          liabilities  of State Fund or National  Fund not disclosed and
          there  are  no  legal,  administrative  or  other  proceedings
          pending,  or to the knowledge of Investment Trust  threatened,
          against  State Fund or National  Fund which  would  materially
          affect its financial condition.

     8.5  Requisite  Approvals.  The  execution  and  delivery  of  this
          Agreement   and   the   consummation   of   the   transactions
          contemplated  herein,  have  been  authorized  by the Board of
          Trustees  of  Investment  Trust by vote  taken at a meeting of
          such  Board  duly  called  and held on  August  16,  1999.  No
          approval of the  shareholders  of National Fund is required in
          connection with this Agreement or the transaction contemplated
          hereby.

     8.6  No  Material  Violations.  Investment  Trust  is not,  and the
          execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not
          result,  in a  material  violation  of  any  provision  of its
          Declaration  of Trust or By-Laws,  as each may be amended,  of
          Investment Trust or of any agreement,  indenture,  instrument,
          contract, lease or other undertaking to which Investment Trust
          is a party or by which it is bound.

     8.7  Taxes and Related Filings. Except where failure to do so would
          not have a material  adverse  effect on State Fund or National
          Fund (i) each of State  Fund and  National  Fund has  filed or
          will file (or has obtained  valid  extensions  of filing dates
          for) all  required  federal,  state and local tax  returns and
          reports for all taxable  years  through the taxable year ended
          March 31, 1999 and no such filings are currently being audited
          or contested by the Internal Revenue Service or state or local

                                        -6-


          taxing  authority;  and  (ii) all  federal,  state  and  local
          income, franchise,  property, sales, employment or other taxes
          or penalties  payable  pursuant to such returns have been paid
          or will  be  paid,  so far as due.  Each  of  State  Fund  and
          National  Fund  has  elected  to  be  treated  as a  regulated
          investment company for federal tax purposes,  has qualified as
          such for each taxable year of its  operations and will qualify
          as such as of the Closing Date.

     8.8  National  Investment  Trust N-1A Not Misleading.  The National
          Investment  Trust N-1A conforms on the date of the  Agreement,
          and will  conform on the date of the Proxy  Statement  and the
          Closing  Date,  in all  material  respects  to the  applicable
          requirements  of the 1933  Act and the 1940 Act and the  rules
          and  regulations  of the  Commission  thereunder  and does not
          include  any untrue  statement  of a material  fact or omit to
          state any  material  fact  required  to be stated  therein  or
          necessary  to make  the  statements  therein,  in light of the
          circumstances  under  which  they were  made,  not  materially
          misleading.

     8.9  Proxy  Materials.  The Proxy Statement  delivered to the State
          Fund shareholders in connection with this transaction (both at
          the time of delivery to such  shareholders  in connection with
          the  meeting  of  shareholders  and  at all  times  subsequent
          thereto  and  including  the  Closing  Date)  in all  material
          respects,  conforms to the applicable requirements of the 1934
          Act and the  1940 Act and the  rules  and  regulations  of the
          Commission  thereunder,   and  will  not  include  any  untrue
          statement  of a  material  fact or omit to state any  material
          fact  required  to be  stated  thereon  or  necessary  to make
          statements  therein, in light of the circumstances under which
          they were made, not materially misleading.

9.   CONDITIONS PRECEDENT TO CLOSING

          The  obligations of the parties hereto shall be conditioned on
     the following:

     9.1  Representations   and  Warranties.   The  representations  and
          warranties of the parties made herein will be true and correct
          on the Closing Date.

     9.2  Shareholder  Approval.  The  Agreement  and  the  transactions
          contemplated  herein shall have been approved by the requisite
          vote of the  holders of State Fund Shares in  accordance  with
          the 1940 Act and the Declaration of Trust and By-Laws, each as
          amended, of Investment Trust.

     9.3  Pending or  Threatened  Proceedings.  On the Closing  Date, no
          action,  suit or  other  proceeding  shall  be  threatened  or
          pending before any court or governmental agency in which it is
          sought to restrain  or  prohibit,  or obtain  damages or other
          relief in connection  with, this Agreement or the transactions
          contemplated herein.

     9.4  Registration  Statement.  The Investment Trust N-14 shall have
          become effective under the 1933 Act; no stop orders suspending
          the  effectiveness  of such  Investment  Trust N-14 shall have
          been issued; and, to the best knowledge of the parties hereto,
          no  investigation  or  proceeding  for that purpose shall have
          been  instituted  or be pending,  threatened  or  contemplated
          under the 1933 Act.

                                        -7-



     9.5  Declaration of Dividend.  Investment Trust shall have declared
          a dividend or dividends which, together with all previous such
          dividends, shall have the effect of distributing to State Fund
          shareholders  all of State Fund'  investment  company  taxable
          income for the final taxable  period of State Fund, all of its
          net capital gain realized in the final taxable period of State
          Fund (after reduction for any capital loss  carryforward)  and
          all of the excess of (i) its interest  income  excludable from
          gross income under Section 103(a) of the Internal Revenue Code
          of 1986, as amended, over (ii) its deductions disallowed under
          Sections 265 and  171(a)(2) of said Code for the final taxable
          period of State Fund.

     9.6  State  Securities  Laws.  The parties  shall have received all
          permits  and  other   authorizations   necessary  under  state
          securities  laws to consummate the  transactions  contemplated
          herein.

     9.7  Performance of Covenants.  Each party shall have performed and
          complied in all material  respects with each of the agreements
          and  covenants  required by this  Agreement to be performed or
          complied  with by each such party prior to or at the Valuation
          Date and the Closing Date.

     9.8  Due  Diligence.  Investment  Trust  shall have had  reasonable
          opportunity to have its officers and agents review the records
          of State Portfolio.

     9.9  No Material Adverse Change.  From the date of this Agreement, through
          the Closing Date, there shall not have been:

          (1)  any change in the  business,  results of  operations,
               assets  or  financial  condition  or  the  manner  of
               conducting  the  business  of State Fund or  National
               Fund (other than  changes in the  ordinary  course of
               its   business,    including,   without   limitation,
               dividends and  distributions  in the ordinary  course
               and changes in the net asset  value per share)  which
               has had a material  adverse  effect on such business,
               results of operations, assets or financial condition,
               except in all instances as set forth in the financial
               statements;

          (2)  any  loss  (whether  or  not  covered  by  insurance)
               suffered  by State Fund or National  Fund  materially
               and  adversely  affecting  of State Fund or  National
               Fund, other than depreciation of securities;

          (3)  issued by  Investment  Trust to any person any option
               to purchase  or other right to acquire  shares of any
               class of State Fund or National  Fund  Shares  (other
               than in the  ordinary  course of  Investment  Trust's
               business   as  an  open-end   management   investment
               company);

          (4)  any  indebtedness  incurred  by  State  Portfolio  or
               National   Portfolio   for  borrowed   money  or  any
               commitment  to  borrow  money  entered  into by State
               Portfolio or National  Portfolio  except as permitted
               in State Investment Trust N-1A or National Investment
               Trust  N-1A and  disclosed  in  financial  statements
               required to be provided under this Agreement;

          (5)  any amendment to the  Declaration of Trust or By-Laws
               of Investment  Trust that will  adversely  affect the
               ability of Investment  Trust to comply with the terms
               of this Agreement; or

                                        -8-


          (6)  any grant or imposition of any lien, claim, charge or
               encumbrance  upon any asset of State Portfolio except
               as provided in State Investment Trust N-1A so long as
               it will not prevent  Investment  Trust from complying
               with Section 7.8.

     9.11 Lawful Sale of Shares.  On the  Closing  Date,  National  Fund
          Shares to be issued  pursuant to Section 2.1 of this Agreement
          will  be  duly   authorized,   duly  and  validly  issued  and
          outstanding,  and fully paid and  non-assessable by Investment
          Trust,  and  conform  in  all  substantial   respects  to  the
          description thereof contained in the Investment Trust N-14 and
          Proxy Statement  furnished to the State Fund  shareholders and
          the  National  Fund Shares to be issued  pursuant to paragraph
          2.1 of this Agreement will be duly  registered  under the 1933
          Act by the Investment  Trust N-14 and will be offered and sold
          in compliance with all applicable state securities laws.

10.  ADDRESSES

          All  notices  required  or  permitted  to be given  under this
     Agreement  shall be given in writing to The Eaton Vance  Building,  255
     State Street, Boston, MA 02109 (Attention:  Eric G. Woodbury, Esq.), or
     at such other place as shall be  specified  in written  notice given by
     either party to the other party to this  Agreement and shall be validly
     given if mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid.

11.  TERMINATION

          This  Agreement  may be  terminated  by either  party upon the
     giving of written notice to the other,  if any of the  representations,
     warranties or conditions specified in Section 7, 8 or 9 hereof have not
     been  performed or do not exist on or before  February 28, 2000. In the
     event of  termination  of this  Agreement  pursuant to this  provision,
     neither party (nor its officers,  Trustees or shareholders)  shall have
     any liability to the other.

12.  MISCELLANEOUS

          This Agreement shall be governed by, construed and enforced in
     accordance  with  the  laws  of  the  Commonwealth  of   Massachusetts.
     Investment  Trust  represents  that  there are no  brokers  or  finders
     entitled to receive any payments in  connection  with the  transactions
     provided for herein.  Investment  Trust  represents that this Agreement
     constitutes the entire agreement  between the parties as to the subject
     matter hereof. The representations,  warranties and covenants contained
     in this Agreement or in any document  delivered  pursuant  hereto or in
     connection   herewith  shall  not  survive  the   consummation  of  the
     transactions  contemplated hereunder. The Section headings contained in
     this Agreement are for reference  purposes only and shall not affect in
     any way the meaning or interpretation of this Agreement. This Agreement
     shall be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
     deemed an original.  Whenever used herein,  the use of any gender shall
     include all genders.

13.  PUBLICITY

          Any  announcements  or similar  publicity with respect to this
     Agreement or the transactions  contemplated herein will be made at such
     time and in such manner as Investment Trust shall determine.

                                   -9-



14.  AMENDMENTS

          At any time prior to or after  approval of this  Agreement  by
     State  Fund  shareholders  (i)  the  parties  hereto  may,  by  written
     agreement and without shareholder approval, amend any of the provisions
     of this  Agreement,  and (ii)  either  party  may  waive  without  such
     approval  any  default by the other party or the failure to satisfy any
     of the  conditions to its  obligations  (such waiver to be in writing);
     provided,   however,  that  following  shareholder  approval,  no  such
     amendment  may  have  the  effect  of  changing  the   provisions   for
     determining  the number of National Fund Shares to be received by State
     Fund  shareholders  under  this  Agreement  to the  detriment  of  such
     shareholders  without  their further  approval.  The failure of a party
     hereto to enforce at any time any of the  provisions of this  Agreement
     shall in no way be construed to be a waiver of any such provision,  nor
     in any way to affect the validity of this  Agreement or any part hereof
     or the right of any party  thereafter  to  enforce  each and every such
     provision.  No waiver of any breach of this Agreement  shall be held to
     be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach.

15.  MASSACHUSETTS BUSINESS TRUST

          References  in this  Agreement  to  Investment  Trust mean and
     refer to the Trustees, from time to time serving under its Declarations
     of  Trust  on  file  with  the   Secretary  of  the   Commonwealth   of
     Massachusetts,  as the same may be amended from time to time,  pursuant
     to which they conduct their businesses. It is expressly agreed that the
     obligations of Investment Trust hereunder shall not be binding upon any
     of the trustees, shareholders,  nominees, officers, agents or employees
     of the Trust personally, but bind only the trust property of Investment
     Trust as provided  in said  Declaration  of Trust.  The  execution  and
     delivery  of this  Agreement  has  been  authorized  by the  respective
     trustees  and  signed by an  authorized  officer of  Investment  Trust,
     acting as such,  and neither such  authorization  by such  trustees nor
     such  execution  and delivery by such  officer  shall be deemed to have
     been made by any of them but shall  bind  only the  trust  property  of
     Investment Trust as provided in such Declaration of Trust. No series of
     Investment  Trust  shall be  liable  for the  obligations  of any other
     series.

                                        -10-



     IN  WITNESS  WHEREOF,  each  of the  parties  hereto  has  caused  this
Agreement to be executed and its seal affixed hereto by their officers thereunto
duly authorized, as of the day and year first above written.

ATTEST:                              EATON VANCE INVESTMENT TRUST
                                     (on behalf of Eaton Vance Connecticut
                                      Limited Maturity Municipals Fund)

/s/ Eric G. Woodbury                 By: /s/ Thomas J. Fetter
- --------------------                     --------------------
Assistant Secretary                      President

                                      EATON VANCE INVESTMENT TRUST  (on  behalf
                                      of Eaton Vance National Limited Maturity
                                      Municipals Fund)

/s/ Eric G. Woodbury                  By: /s/ Thomas J. Fetter
- --------------------                      ---------------------
Assistant Secretary                       President

                                      CONNECTICUT LIMITED MATURITY MUNICIPALS
                                      PORTFOLIO

/s/ Eric G. Woodbury                  By: /s/ Thomas J. Fetter
- --------------------                      --------------------
Assistant Secretary                       President

                                      NATIONAL LIMITED MATURITY
                                      MUNICIPALS PORTFOLIO

/s/ Eric G. Woodbury                  By: /s/ Thomas J. Fetter
- --------------------                      ---------------------
Assistant Secretary                       President