Exhibit 1.3 BELL, BOYD & LLOYD LLC Three First National Plaza 70 West Madison Street, Suite 3300 Chicago, Illinois 60602-4207 312 372-2098 March 29, 2004 As counsel for Nuveen Floating Rate Income Fund (the "Registrant"), we consent to the incorporation by reference of our opinion, filed with pre-effective amendment no. 3 to the Registrant's registration statement on Form N-2 (File Nos. 333-112179 and 811-21494) on February 24, 2004. In giving this consent we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act of 1933. Very truly yours, /s/ Bell, Boyd & Lloyd LLC