Exhibit 24



                                POWER OF ATTORNEY

              FOR THE ACQUISITION OF MARITIME BANK & TRUST COMPANY

     Each director whose signature appears below appoints James C. Smith or John
V. Brennan, jointly and severally,  each in his own capacity, as true and lawful
attorneys-in-fact,  with full power of  substitution  in such  director's  name,
place and stead, in any and all capacities to sign the Registration Statement on
Form S-4 and any  amendments  to the Form S-4,  and to file the  same,  with all
exhibits  thereto,  and  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with  the
Securities  and Exchange  Commission,  hereby  ratifying and confirming all that
said  attorney-in-fact,  or their substitute or substitutes,  may lawfully do or
cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     This Power of Attorney may be signed in counterparts.


                         [Signatures on following page]





     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this Power of Attorney on
October 26, 1998.

/s/ Richard H. Alden                           /s/ Achille A. Apicella
- -------------------------                      ----------------------------
Richard H. Alden                               Achille A. Apicella

/s/ Joel S. Becker                             /s/ O. Joseph Bizzozero, Jr.
- -------------------------                      ----------------------------
Joel S. Becker                                 O. Joseph Bizzozero, Jr.

/s/ George T. Carpenter                        /s/ John J. Crawford
- -------------------------                      ----------------------------
George T. Carpenter                            John J. Crawford

/s/ Harry P. DiAdamo, Jr.                      /s/ Robert A. Finkenzeller
- -------------------------                      ----------------------------
Harry P. DiAdamo, Jr.                          Robert A. Finkenzeller

/s/ Walter R. Griffin                          /s/ J. Gregory Hickey
- -------------------------                      ----------------------------
Walter R. Griffin                              J. Gregory Hickey

/s/ C. Michael Jacobi                          /s/ John F. McCarthy
- -------------------------                      ----------------------------
C. Michael Jacobi                              John F. McCarthy

/s/ James C. Smith                             /s/ Sister Marguerite Waite
- -------------------------                      ----------------------------
James C. Smith                                 Sister Marguerite Waite