FT 283
487, 1998-10-20
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                                      Registration No.  333-63553
                                           1940 Act No. 811-05903
                                
               SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                     Washington, D.C.  20549

                   Amendment No. 2 to Form S-6
                                
 FOR REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OF SECURITIES
       OF UNIT INVESTMENT TRUSTS REGISTERED ON FORM N-8B-2

A.   Exact name of trust:

                             FT 283

B.   Name of depositor:

                      NIKE SECURITIES L.P.

C.   Complete address of depositor's principal executive offices:

                      1001 Warrenville Road
                     Lisle, Illinois  60532

D.        Name and complete address of agents for service:

                                        Copy to:
     JAMES A. BOWEN                     ERIC F. FESS
     c/o Nike Securities L.P.           c/o Chapman and Cutler
     1001 Warrenville Road              111 West Monroe Street
     Lisle, Illinois  60532             Chicago, Illinois 60603

E.   Title of Securities Being Registered:

     An indefinite number of Units pursuant to Rule 24f-2
     promulgated under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
     amended


F.   Approximate date of proposed sale to public:

     As soon as practicable after the effective date of the
     Registration Statement.

|XXX|Check  box  if it is proposed that this filing  will  become
     effective on October 20, 1998 at 2:00 p.m. pursuant to Rule
     487.
                ________________________________
                                

                             FT 283

                      Cross-Reference Sheet

         (Form N-8B-2 Items required by Instructions as
                 to the Prospectus in Form S-6)

 Form N-8B-2 Item Number              Form S-6 Heading in Prospectus
                                
                                
            I.  ORGANIZATION AND GENERAL INFORMATION

1.   (a)  Name of trust                    Prospectus front cover
     (b)  Title of securities issued       Summary of Essential
                                           Information

2.   Name and address of each depositor    Information as to
                                           Sponsor, Trustee and
                                           Evaluator

3.   Name and address of trustee           Information as to
                                           Sponsor, Trustee and
                                           Evaluator

4.   Name and address of principal         Information as to
     underwriters                          Sponsor, Trustee and
                                           Evaluator

5.   State of organization of trust        The FT Series

6.   Execution and termination of          Other Information
     trust agreement

7.   Changes of name                          *

8.   Fiscal year                              *

9.   Litigation                               *
                                
                                
II.  GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST AND SECURITIES OF THE TRUST

10.  (a)  Registered or bearer             Public Offering
          securities

     (b)  Cumulative or distributive       The FT Series
          securities

     (c)  Redemption                       Rights of Unitholders

     (d)  Conversion, transfer, etc.       Rights of Unitholders

     (e)  Periodic payment plan               *

     (f)  Voting rights                    Rights of Unitholders

     (g)  Notice of certificateholders     Other Information

     (h)  Consents required                Rights of Unitholders;
                                           Other Information

     (i)  Other provisions                 The FT Series

11.  Types of securities comprising        The FT Series
     units                                 Schedule of
                                           Investments

12.  Certain information regarding
     periodic payment certificates            *

13.  (a)  Load, fees, expenses, etc.       Summary of Essential
                                           Information; Public
                                           Offering; The FT
                                           Series
     (b)  Certain information regarding
          periodic payment certificates       *

     (c)  Certain percentages              Summary of Essential
                                           Information; The FT
                                           Series; Public
                                           Offering

     (d)  Certain other fees, etc.
          payable  by holders              Rights of Units
                                           Holders

     (e)  Certain profits receivable
          by depositor, principal,
          underwriters, trustee or         The FT Series
          affiliated persons

     (f)  Ratio of annual charges             *
          to income

14.  Issuance of trust's securities        Rights of Unit Holders

15.  Receipt and handling of payments
     from purchasers                          *

16.  Acquisition and disposition of
     underlying securities                 The FT Series; Rights
                                           of Unit Holders;

17.  Withdrawal or redemption              The FT Series; Public
                                           Offering; Rights of
                                           Unit Holders

18.  (a)  Receipt, custody and             Rights of Unit Holders
          disposition  of income

     (b)  Reinvestment of distributions    Rights of Unit Holders

     (c)  Reserves or special funds        Information as to
                                           Sponsor, Trustee and
                                           Evaluator

     (d)  Schedule of distributions           *

19.  Records, accounts and reports         Rights of Unit Holders

20.  Certain miscellaneous provisions
     of trust agreement

     (a)  Amendment                        Other Information

     (b)  Termination                      Other Information

     (c)  and (d) Trustee, removal         Information as
          and successor                    to Sponsor, Trustee
                                           and Evaluator

     (e)  and (f) Depositor, removal       Information as
          and successor                    to Sponsor, Trustee
                                           and Evaluator

21.  Loans to security holders                *

22.  Limitations on liability              The FT Series;
                                            Information as to
                                           Sponsor, Trustee
                                           and Evaluator

23.  Bonding arrangements                  Contents of
                                           Registration
                                           Statement

24.  Other material provisions             *
     of trust agreement


III.  ORGANIZATION, PERSONNEL AND AFFILIATED PERSONS OF DEPOSITOR

25.  Organization of depositor             Information as to
                                           Sponsor, Trustee and
                                           Evaluator

26.  Fees received by depositor               *

27.  Business of depositor                 Information as to
                                           Sponsor, Trustee and
                                           Evaluator

28.  Certain information as to
     officials and affiliated                 *
     persons of depositor

29.  Voting securities of depositor           *

30.  Persons controlling depositor            *

31.  Payment by depositor for certain
     services rendered to trust               *

32.  Payment by depositor for certain
     other services rendered to trust         *

33.  Remuneration of employees of
     depositor for certain services
     rendered to trust                        *

34.  Remuneration of other persons
     for certain services rendered            *
     to trust
                                
                                
                IV.  DISTRIBUTION AND REDEMPTION

35.  Distribution of trust's               Public Offering
     securities by states

36.  Suspension of sales of trust's
     securities                               *

37.  Revocation of authority to               *
     distribute

38.  (a)  Method of distribution           Public Offering

     (b)  Underwriting agreements          Public Offering

     (c)  Selling agreements               Public Offering

39.  (a)  Organization of principal        Information as
          underwriters                     to Sponsor, Trustee
                                           and Evaluator

     (b)  N.A.S.D. membership of
          principal underwriters           Information as to
                                           Sponsor, Trustee and
                                           Evaluator


40.  Certain fees received by              See Items 13(a) and
     principal underwriters                13(e)

41.  (a)  Business of principal            Information as to
          underwriters                     Sponsor, Trustee and
                                           Evaluator

     (b)  Branch offices of
          principal underwriters              *

     (c)  Salesmen of principal               *
          underwriters

42.  Ownership of trust's securities
     by certain persons                       *

43.  Certain brokerage commissions
     received by principal                    *
     underwriters

44.  (a)  Method of valuation              Summary of Essential
                                           Information; The FT
                                           Series, Public
                                           Offering

     (b)  Schedule as to offering             *
          price

     (c)  Variation in offering            Public Offering
          price to certain persons

45.  Suspension of redemption rights          *

46.  (a)  Redemption valuation             Rights of Unit Holders

     (b)  Schedule as to redemption           *
          price

47.  Maintenance of position in            Public Offering;
     underlying securities                 Rights
                                           of Unit Holders
                                
                                
       V.  INFORMATION CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE OR CUSTODIAN

48.  Organization and regulation of        Information as
     trustee                               to Sponsor, Trustee
                                           and Evaluator

49.  Fees and expenses of trustee          The FT Series

50.  Trustee's lien                        The FT Series
                                
                                
     VI.  INFORMATION CONCERNING THE INSURANCE OF HOLDERS OF
                           SECURITIES

51.  Insurance of holders of
     trust's securities                       *
                                
                                
                   VII.  POLICY OF REGISTRANT

52.  (a)  Provisions of trust              The FT Series;
          agreement with respect to        Rights of Unit Holders
          selection or elimination of
          underlying securities


     (b)  Transactions involving
          elimination of underlying           *
          securities

     (c)  Policy regarding substitution    The FT Series;
          or elimination of underlying     Rights of Unit Holders
          securities


     (d)  Fundamental policy not
          otherwise covered                   *

53.  Tax status of Trust                   The FT Series
                                
                                
          VIII.  FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL INFORMATION

54.  Trust's securities during                *
     last ten years

55.

56.

57.  Certain information regarding
      periodic payment certificates           *

58.

59.  Financial statements                  Report of Independent
     (Instruction 1(c) to Form S-6)        Auditors
                                           Statement of Net
                                           Assets



* Inapplicable, answer negative or not required.

           STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY TRUST SERIES

The Trust. FT 283 (the "Trust") is a unit investment trust consisting
primarily of a portfolio of common stocks issued by companies in the
communications and technology industries (the "Equity Securities").

   
The objective of the Trust is to provide the potential for above-average
capital appreciation along with significant diversification within the
communications and technology industries by investing in the Equity
Securities. See "Schedule of Investments." The Trust has a mandatory
termination date ("Mandatory Termination Date" or "Trust Ending Date")
as set forth under "Summary of Essential Information." There is, of
course, no guarantee that the objective of the Trust will be achieved.
    

Each Unit of the Trust represents an undivided fractional interest in
all the Equity Securities deposited in the Trust. The Equity Securities
deposited in the Trust's portfolio have no fixed maturity date and the
value of these underlying Equity Securities will fluctuate with changes
in the values of stocks in general. See "Portfolio."

The Sponsor may, from time to time during a period of up to
approximately 360 days after the Initial Date of Deposit, deposit
additional Equity Securities in the Trust or cash (including a letter of
credit) with instructions to purchase additional Equity Securities in
the Trust. Such deposits of additional Equity Securities or cash will be
done in such a manner that the original proportionate relationship
amongst the individual issues of the Equity Securities shall be
maintained. Any deposit by the Sponsor of additional Equity Securities,
or the purchase of additional Equity Securities pursuant to a cash
deposit, will duplicate, as nearly as is practicable, the original
proportionate relationship established on the Initial Date of Deposit,
not the actual proportionate relationship on the subsequent date of
deposit, since the two may differ. Any such difference may be due to the
sale, redemption or liquidation of any Equity Securities deposited in
the Trust on the Initial, or any subsequent, Date of Deposit. See "What
is the FT Series?" and "Rights of Unit Holders-How May Equity Securities
be Removed from the Trust?"

UNITS OF THE TRUST ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS OF, OR GUARANTEED BY,
ANY BANK, AND UNITS ARE NOT FEDERALLY INSURED OR OTHERWISE PROTECTED BY
THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION AND INVOLVE INVESTMENT RISK
INCLUDING LOSS OF PRINCIPAL.

   
Public Offering Price. The Public Offering Price per Unit of the Trust
during the initial offering period is equal to the aggregate underlying
value of the Equity Securities in the Trust (generally determined by the
closing sale prices of listed Equity Securities and the ask prices of
over-the-counter traded Equity Securities) plus or minus a pro rata
share of cash, if any, in the Capital and Income Accounts of the Trust,
plus an initial sales charge equal to the difference between the maximum
sales charge of 5.0% of the Public Offering Price and the maximum
remaining deferred sales charge, initially $.35 per Unit, divided by the
number of Units of the Trust outstanding. Commencing on March 19, 1999,
and on the twentieth day of each month thereafter (or, if such day is
not a business day, on the preceding business day), through September
20, 1999, a deferred sales charge of $.05 will be assessed per Unit per
month. Units purchased subsequent to the initial deferred sales charge
payment but still during the initial offering period will be subject to
the initial sales charge and the remaining deferred sales charge
payments not yet collected. The deferred sales
    

THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR HAS THE COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY
OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.

                     Fifth Third / The Ohio Company

   
             The date of this Prospectus is October 20, 1998
    

Page 1

   
charge will be paid from funds in the Capital Account, if sufficient, or
from the periodic sale of Equity Securities. The total maximum sales
charge assessed to Unit holders on a per Unit basis will be 5.0% of the
Public Offering Price (equivalent to 5.076% of the net amount invested,
exclusive of the deferred sales charge). A pro rata share of accumulated
dividends, if any, in the Income Account is included in the Public
Offering Price. In addition, a portion of the Public Offering Price on
Units purchased prior to the earlier of six months after the Initial
Date of Deposit or the end of the initial offering period also consists
of Equity Securities in an amount sufficient to pay for all or a portion
of the costs incurred in establishing the Trust. The organizational and
offering costs will be deducted from the assets of the Trust as of the
earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of
the initial offering period. Upon completion of the deferred sales
charge period, the secondary market Public Offering Price per Unit for
the Trust will not include deferred payments, but will instead include
only a one-time initial sales charge of 5.0% of the Public Offering
Price (equivalent to 5.263% of the net amount invested), which will be
reduced by 1/2 of 1% on each October 29, commencing October 29, 1999 to
a minimum sales charge of 3.0%. The minimum amount which an investor may
purchase of the Trust is $1,000. The sales charge is reduced on a
graduated scale for sales involving at least $50,000. See "Public
Offering-How is the Public Offering Price Determined?"
    

   
Dividend and Capital Distributions. Distributions of dividends and
capital, if any, received by the Trust will be paid on the Income
Distribution Date to Unit holders of record on the preceding Income
Distribution Record Date as set forth in the "Summary of Essential
Information." Distributions of funds in the Capital Account, if any,
will be made at least annually in December of each year. Any
distribution will be net of the expenses of the Trust. See "What is the
Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders?" Additionally, upon termination of
the Trust, the Trustee will distribute, upon surrender of Units for
redemption, to each Unit holder his or her pro rata share of the Trust's
assets, less expenses, in the manner set forth under "Rights of Unit
Holders-How are Income and Capital Distributed?" 
    

Secondary Market for Units. After the initial offering period, while
under no obligation to do so, the Sponsor intends to, and the
Underwriter may, maintain a market for Units of the Trust and offer to
repurchase such Units at prices which are based on the aggregate
underlying value of Equity Securities in the Trust (generally determined
by the closing sale prices of listed Equity Securities and the bid
prices of over-the-counter traded Equity Securities) plus or minus cash,
if any, in the Capital and Income Accounts of the Trust. If a secondary
market is maintained during the initial offering period, the prices at
which Units will be repurchased will be based upon the aggregate
underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust (generally
determined by the closing sale prices of listed Equity Securities and
the ask prices of over-the-counter traded Equity Securities) plus or
minus cash, if any, in the Capital and Income Accounts of the Trust. If
a secondary market is not maintained, a Unit holder may redeem Units
through redemption at prices based upon the aggregate underlying value
of the Equity Securities in the Trust (generally determined by the
closing sale prices of listed Equity Securities and either the ask
prices (during the initial offering period) or the bid prices
(subsequent to the initial offering period) of over-the-counter traded
Equity Securities) plus or minus a pro rata share of cash, if any, in
the Capital and Income Accounts of the Trust. A Unit holder tendering
2,500 Units or more for redemption may request a distribution of shares
of Equity Securities (reduced by customary transfer and registration
charges) (an "In-Kind Distribution") in lieu of payment in cash. Any
deferred sales charge remaining on Units at the time of their sale or
redemption will be collected at that time. See "Rights of Unit Holders-
How May Units be Redeemed?"

Termination. Commencing no later than the Mandatory Termination Date,
Equity Securities will begin to be sold as prescribed by the Sponsor.
The Trustee shall provide written notice of any termination of the Trust
to Unit holders which will specify when Unit holders may surrender their
certificates for cancellation and will include with such notice a form
to enable Unit holders to elect an In-Kind Distribution if such Unit
holder owns at least 2,500 Units of the Trust, rather than to receive
payment in cash for such Unit holder's pro rata share of the amounts
realized upon the disposition by the Trustee of the Equity Securities.
To be effective, the election form, together with surrendered
certificates and other documentation required by the Trustee, must be
returned to the Trustee at least ten business days prior to the
Mandatory Termination Date. Unit holders not electing a distribution of
shares of Equity Securities will receive a cash distribution within a
reasonable time after the Trust is terminated. See "Rights of Unit
Holders-How are Income and Capital Distributed?" and "Other Information-
How May the Indenture be Amended or Terminated?"

Page 2

Risk Factors. An investment in the Trust should be made with an
understanding of the risks associated therewith, including, among other
factors, the possible deterioration of either the financial condition of
the issuers of the Equity Securities or the general condition of the
stock market, volatile interest rates or economic recession. The Trust's
portfolio is not managed and Equity Securities will not be sold by the
Trust regardless of market fluctuations, although some Equity Securities
may be sold under certain limited circumstances. See "Portfolio-Risk
Factors."

Page 3


                                         Summary of Essential Information
   
                At the Opening of Business on the Initial Date of Deposit
                                of the Equity Securities-October 20, 1998
    

               Underwriter:   Fifth Third/The Ohio Company
                   Sponsor:   Nike Securities L.P.
                   Trustee:   The Chase Manhattan Bank
                 Evaluator:   First Trust Advisors L.P.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
General Information                                                                                                          
<S>                                                                                                           <C>            
Initial Number of Units (1)                                                                                      15,007      
Fractional Undivided Interest in the Trust per Unit (1)                                                        1/15,007      
Public Offering Price:                                                                                                       
    Aggregate Offering Price Evaluation of Equity Securities in Portfolio (2)                                 $ 147,826      
    Aggregate Offering Price Evaluation of Equity Securities per Unit                                         $   9.850      
    Maximum Sales Charge of 5.0% of the Public Offering Price per Unit                                                       
        (5.076% of the net amount invested, exclusive of the deferred sales charge) (3)                       $    .500      
    Less Deferred Sales Charge per Unit                                                                       $   (.350)     
    Public Offering Price per Unit (3)                                                                        $  10.000      
Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price per Unit (4)                                                               $   9.500      
Redemption Price per Unit (based on the aggregate underlying value of Equity Securities) (4)                  $   9.500      
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

<S>                                                <C>                                                                       
CUSIP Number                                       30264S 296                                                                
Security Code                                      56077                                                                     
First Settlement Date                              October 23, 1998                                                          
Mandatory Termination Date                         October 31, 2003                                                          
Discretionary Liquidation Amount                   The Trust may be terminated if the value thereof is less than the lower   
                                                   of $2,000,000 or 20% of the total value of Securities deposited in the    
                                                   Trust during the initial offering period.                                 
Trustee's Annual Fee                               $.0096 per Unit outstanding.                                              
Evaluator's Annual Fee                             $.0030 per Unit outstanding, payable to an affiliate of the Sponsor.      
                                                   Evaluations for purposes of sale, purchase or redemption of Units are     
                                                   made as of the close of trading (generally 4:00 p.m. Eastern time) on     
                                                   the New York Stock Exchange on each day on which it is open.              
Supervisory Fee (5)                                Maximum of $.0035 per Unit outstanding annually payable to an affiliate   
                                                   of the Sponsor.                                                           
Estimated Organizational and Offering Costs (6)    $.0245 per Unit.                                                          
Income Distribution Record Date                    Fifteenth day of each December commencing December 15, 1998.              
Income Distribution Date (7)                       Last day of each December commencing December 31, 1998.                   

____________

<FN>
(1) As of the close of business on the Initial Date of Deposit, the
number of Units of the Trust may be adjusted so that the Public Offering
Price per Unit will equal approximately $10.00. Therefore, to the extent
of any such adjustment, the fractional undivided interest per Unit will
increase or decrease accordingly, from the amounts indicated above.

(2) Each listed Equity Security is valued at the last closing sale price,
or if no such price exists or if the Equity Security is not so listed,
at the closing ask price thereof.

(3) The maximum sales charge consists of an initial sales charge and a
deferred sales charge. See "Fee Table" and "Public Offering" for
additional information regarding these charges. On the Initial Date of
Deposit there will be no accumulated dividends in the Income Account.
Anyone ordering Units after such date will pay a pro rata share of any
accumulated dividends in such Income Account. The Public Offering Price
as shown reflects the value of the Securities at the opening of business
on the Initial Date of Deposit and establishes the original
proportionate relationship amongst the individual securities. No sales
to investors will be executed at this price. Additional Securities will
be deposited during the day of the Initial Date of Deposit which will be
valued as of 4:00 p.m. Eastern time and sold to investors at a Public
Offering Price per Unit based on this valuation.

(4) The Sponsor's Initial Repurchase Price per Unit and the Redemption
Price per Unit set forth above and until the earlier of six months after
the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the initial offering period
include estimated organizational and offering costs per Unit. After such
date the Sponsor's Repurchase Price and Redemption Price per Unit will
not include such estimated organizational and offering costs. See
"Rights of Unit Holders-How May Units be Redeemed?"

(5) In addition, the Sponsor will be reimbursed for bookkeeping and other
administrative expenses currently at a maximum annual rate of $.0033 per
Unit.

(6) Investors will bear all or a portion of the costs incurred in
organizing the Trust (including costs of preparing the registration
statement, the Trust indenture and other closing documents, registering
Units with the Securities and Exchange Commission and states, the
initial audit of the Trust portfolio, legal fees and the initial fees
and expenses of the Trustee but not including the expenses incurred in
the printing of preliminary and final prospectuses, and expenses
incurred in the preparation and printing of brochures and other
advertising materials and any other selling expenses). Estimated
organizational and offering costs are included in the Public Offering
Price per Unit and will be deducted from the assets of the Trust at the
earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of
the initial offering period. See "Public Offering" and "Statement of Net
Assets."

(7) Distributions from the Capital Account will be made monthly payable
on the last day of the month to Unit holders of record on the fifteenth
day of such month if the amount available for distribution equals at
least $0.01 per Unit. Notwithstanding, distributions of funds in the
Capital Account, if any, will be made in December of each year.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Page 4


                                FEE TABLE

This Fee Table is intended to help you to understand the costs and
expenses that you will bear directly or indirectly. See "Public
Offering" and "What are the Expenses and Charges?" Although the Trust
has a term of approximately five years and is a unit investment trust
rather than a mutual fund, this information is presented to permit a
comparison of fees.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                             Amount           
                                                                                                             per Unit         
                                                                                                             ________         
<S>                                                                                        <C>               <C>              
Unit Holder Transaction Expenses                                                                                              
                                                                                                                              
Initial sales charge imposed on purchase                                                                                      
   (as a percentage of public offering price)                                              1.50%(a)          $ .150          
Deferred sales charge                                                                                                         
   (as a percentage of public offering price)                                              3.50%(b)            .350       
                                                                                           ________          ________         
                                                                                           5.00%             $ .500          
                                                                                           ========          ========         
                                                                                                                              
Organizational and Offering Costs                                                                                             
Estimated Organizational and Offering Costs                                                                                   
   (as a percentage of public offering price)                                               .245%(c)         $.0245           
                                                                                           ========          ========         
                                                                                                                              
Estimated Annual Trust Operating Expenses                                                                                     
     (as a percentage of average net assets)                                                                                  
                                                                                                                              
Trustee's fee                                                                               .099%            $.0096           
Portfolio supervision, bookkeeping, administrative and evaluation fees                      .101%             .0098           
Other operating expenses                                                                    .055%             .0054           
                                                                                           ________          ________         
   Total                                                                                    .255%            $.0248           
                                                                                           ========          ========         
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                           Example                                                            
                                                           _______                                                            
                                                                            Cumulative Expenses Paid for Period:              
                                                                        1 Year            3 Years           5 Years           
                                                                        ______            _______           _______           
<S>                                                                     <C>               <C>               <C>               
An investor would pay the following expenses on a $1,000 investment, 
assuming the Strategic Communications & Technology Trust Series has an                                                        
estimated operating expense ratio of .255% and a 5% annual return on                                                          
the investment throughout the periods                                  $ 55              $ 60              $ 66               

_____________

<FN>
(a) The Initial Sales Charge is actually the difference between the
maximum total sales charge of 5.0% and the maximum remaining deferred
sales charge (initially $.35 per Unit) and would exceed 1.5% if the
Public Offering Price exceeds $10.00 per Unit.

(b) The actual fee is $.05 per Unit per month, irrespective of purchase
or redemption price deducted monthly commencing March 19, 1999 through
September 20, 1999. If a Unit holder sells or redeems Units before all
of these deductions have been made, the balance of the deferred sales
charge payments remaining will be deducted from the sales or redemption
proceeds. If the Unit price is less than $10.00 per Unit, the deferred
sales charge will exceed 3.5%. Units purchased subsequent to the initial
deferred sales charge payment will be subject to the previously
collected deferred sales charge payments at the time of purchase and any
remaining deferred sales charge payments not yet collected.

(c) Investors will bear all or a portion of the costs incurred in
organizing the Trust (including costs of preparing the registration
statement, the Trust indenture, and other closing documents, registering
Units with the Equity Securities and Exchange Commission and states, the
initial audit of the Trust portfolio, legal fees and the initial fees
and expenses of the Trustee). Estimated organizational and offering
costs are included in the Public Offering Price per Unit and will be
deducted from the assets of the Trust at the earlier of six months after
the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the initial offering period.
</FN>
</TABLE>

The example assumes reinvestment of all dividends and distributions and
utilizes a 5% annual rate of return as mandated by Securities and
Exchange Commission regulations applicable to mutual funds. For purposes
of the example, the deferred sales charge imposed on reinvestment of
dividends is not reflected until the year following payment of the
dividend; the cumulative expenses would be higher if sales charges on
reinvested dividends were reflected in the year of reinvestment. The
example should not be considered a representation of past or future
expenses or annual rate of return; the actual expenses and annual rate
of return may be more or less than those assumed for purposes of the
example.

Page 5


           STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY TRUST SERIES
                                 FT 283

What is the FT Series?

FT 283 is one of a series of investment companies created by the Sponsor
under the name of the FT Series, all of which are generally similar, but
each of which is separate and is designated by a different series
number. The FT Series was previously known as The First Special
Situations Trust Series. The Trust was created under the laws of the
State of New York pursuant to a Trust Agreement (the "Indenture"), dated
the Initial Date of Deposit, with Nike Securities L.P. as Sponsor, The
Chase Manhattan Bank as Trustee and First Trust Advisors L.P. as
Portfolio Supervisor and Evaluator.

On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor deposited with the Trustee
confirmations of contracts for the purchase of common stocks of
companies involved in the communications and technology industries (the
"Equity Securities"), together with an irrevocable letter or letters of
credit of a financial institution in an amount at least equal to the
purchase price of the Equity Securities. In exchange for the deposit of
securities or contracts to purchase securities in the Trust, the Trustee
delivered to the Sponsor documents evidencing the entire ownership of
the Trust.

   
The objective of the Trust is to provide investors with the potential
for above-average capital appreciation along with significant
diversification within the communications and technology industries
through an investment in a diversified portfolio of common stocks of
leading companies in the communications and technology industries. There
is, however, no guarantee that the objective of the Trust will be
achieved.
    

The portfolio of the Trust was selected by Fifth Third/The Ohio Company
(the "Underwriter") and consists of a portfolio of large, established
companies with the resources to compete globally, as well as smaller,
emerging companies directly involved in providing communications or the
technologies important to providing those services. Companies which
provide products and services to the broad area of communications,
including voice, visual and data transmission, are growing at a
significant rate. Fueling the dramatic growth of the telecommunications
industry are such factors as:

- -   The rapid penetration of personal computers in homes (48%) and
businesses;

- -   The growing popularity of e-mail;

- -   The Internet and Internet-related businesses. Over the past few
years, Internet traffic has doubled approximately every 100 days;

   
- -   Easier, more rapid access to Internet services via faster modems and
cable modem connections;
    

   
- -   The greater need and use of Local Area Networks (LANS) and Wide Area
Networks (WANS);
    

- -   The sharing of software applications and files to improve
productivity;

- -   The increased use of fax communications, which currently account for
more than one-half of all international phone minutes; and

- -   The growth of frame relay and ATM services.

While all investors are probably familiar with the typical local, long-
distance and even private line services provided by traditional wireline
companies like the Regional Bell Operating Companies and AT&T, new
services and technologies, such as those listed above, are becoming
better known. Spending for domestic telecommunications services in 1997
amounted to approximately $175 billion, an amount which the Underwriter
expects to significantly increase over the next five years. Spending on
data transmission alone in 1997 amounted to roughly 15% of that year's
total spending. In the future, the Underwriter expects spending on data
transmission to represent a much greater percentage of total spending on
domestic telecommunications services. 

In the opinion of the Underwriter these combined factors, along with
many others, are having a profound effect on the telecommunications
landscape and present an outstanding investment opportunity. The Trust
has been designed to provide investors with the potential for strong
investment returns as well as diversification to limit the volatility
inherent in companies associated with new, rapidly growing technologies.

Page 6


An investment in the Trust should, however, be made with an
understanding of the risks involved in such an investment. See "Schedule
of Investments" and "What are the Equity Securities?-Risk Factors." 

With the deposit of the Equity Securities on the Initial Date of
Deposit, the Sponsor established a percentage relationship between the
amounts of individual Equity Securities in the Trust's portfolio. From
time to time following the Initial Date of Deposit, the Sponsor,
pursuant to the Indenture, may deposit additional Equity Securities in
the Trust or cash (including a letter of credit) with instructions to
purchase additional Equity Securities in the Trust, and Units may be
continuously offered for sale to the public by means of this Prospectus,
resulting in a potential increase in the outstanding number of Units of
the Trust. Any deposit by the Sponsor of additional Equity Securities or
cash will duplicate, as nearly as is practicable, the original
proportionate relationship and not the actual proportionate relationship
on the subsequent date of deposit, since the two may differ. Any such
difference may be due to the sale, redemption or liquidation of any of
the Equity Securities deposited in the Trust on the Initial, or any
subsequent, Date of Deposit. See "Rights of Unit Holders-How May Equity
Securities be Removed from the Trust?" The original percentage
relationship of each Security to the Trust is set forth herein under
"Schedule of Investments." Since the prices of the underlying Equity
Securities will fluctuate daily, the ratio, on a market value basis,
will also change daily. The portion of Equity Securities represented by
each Unit will not change as a result of the deposit of additional
Equity Securities in the Trust. If the Sponsor deposits cash, however,
existing and new investors may experience a dilution of their investment
and a reduction in their anticipated income because of fluctuations in
the price of the Equity Securities and because the Trust will pay the
associated brokerage fees. To minimize this effect, the Trust will try
to purchase the Equity Securities as close to the evaluation time or as
close to the evaluation price as possible. The Trustee may from time to
time retain and pay compensation to the Sponsor (or an affiliate of the
Sponsor) to act as agent for the Trust with respect to acquiring Equity
Securities for the Trust. In acting in such capacity, the Sponsor or its
affiliate will be held subject to the restrictions under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.

On the Initial Date of Deposit, each Unit of the Trust represented the
undivided fractional interest in the Equity Securities as set forth
under "Summary of Essential Information." To the extent that Units of
the Trust are redeemed, the aggregate value of the Equity Securities in
the Trust will be reduced and the undivided fractional interest
represented by each outstanding Unit of the Trust will increase.
However, if additional Units are issued by the Trust in connection with
the deposit of additional Equity Securities or cash by the Sponsor, the
aggregate value of the Equity Securities in the Trust will be increased
by amounts allocable to additional Units, and the fractional undivided
interest represented by each Unit of the Trust will be decreased
proportionately. See "Rights of Unit Holders-How May Units be Redeemed?"

What are the Expenses and Charges?

With the exception of the brokerage fees discussed above and bookkeeping
and other administrative services provided to the Trust, for which the
Sponsor will be reimbursed in amounts as set forth under "Summary of
Essential Information," the Sponsor will not receive any fees in
connection with its activities relating to the Trust. 

First Trust Advisors L.P., an affiliate of the Sponsor, will receive an
annual supervisory fee, which is not to exceed the amount set forth
under "Summary of Essential Information," for providing portfolio
supervisory services for the Trust. Such fee is based on the number of
Units outstanding in the Trust on January 1 of each year, except for the
year or years in which an initial offering period occurs, in which case
the fee for a month is based on the number of Units outstanding at the
end of such month. In providing such supervisory services, the Portfolio
Supervisor may purchase research services from a variety of sources
which may include the Underwriter or dealers of the Trust.

Subsequent to the initial offering period, First Trust Advisors L.P., an
affiliate of the Sponsor, in its capacity as Evaluator for the Trust,
will receive a fee as indicated in the "Summary of Essential Information."

The Trustee pays certain expenses of the Trust for which it is
reimbursed by the Trust. The Trustee will receive for its ordinary
recurring services to the Trust an annual fee as set forth in "Summary
of Essential Information." Such fee will be based upon the largest
aggregate number of Units of the Trust outstanding during the calendar
year, except during the initial offering period, in which case the fee
is calculated based on the largest number of Units outstanding during
the period for which compensation is paid. For a discussion of the
services performed by the Trustee pursuant to its obligations under the
Indenture, reference is made to the material set forth under "Rights of
Unit Holders."

The Trustee's and above described fees are payable from the Income
Account of the Trust to the extent funds are available, and then from
the Capital Account of the Trust. Since the Trustee has the use of the

Page 7

funds being held in the Capital and Income Accounts for payment of
expenses and redemptions and since such Accounts are noninterest-bearing
to Unit holders, the Trustee benefits thereby. Part of the Trustee's
compensation for its services to the Trust is expected to result from
the use of these funds.

Each of the above mentioned fees may be increased without approval of
the Unit holders by amounts not exceeding proportionate increases under
the category "All Services Less Rent of Shelter" in the Consumer Price
Index published by the United States Department of Labor. In addition,
with respect to the fees payable to the Sponsor or an affiliate of the
Sponsor for providing bookkeeping and other administrative services,
supervisory services and evaluation services, such individual fees may
exceed the actual costs of providing such services for the Trust, but at
no time will the total amount received for such services rendered to all
unit investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P. is the Sponsor in
any calendar year exceed the actual cost to the Sponsor or its affiliate
of supplying such services in such year.

The following additional charges are or may be incurred by the Trust:
all legal and annual auditing expenses of the Trustee incurred by or in
connection with its responsibilities under the Indenture; the expenses
and costs of any action undertaken by the Trustee to protect the Trust
and the rights and interests of the Unit holders; fees of the Trustee
for any extraordinary services performed under the Indenture;
indemnification of the Trustee for any loss, liability or expense
incurred by it without negligence, bad faith or willful misconduct on
its part, arising out of or in connection with its acceptance or
administration of the Trust; any offering costs incurred after the
earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of
the initial offering period; indemnification of the Sponsor for any
loss, liability or expense incurred without gross negligence, bad faith
or willful misconduct in acting as Depositor of the Trust; all taxes and
other government charges imposed upon the Equity Securities or any part
of the Trust (no such taxes or charges are being levied or made or, to
the knowledge of the Sponsor, contemplated). The above expenses and the
Trustee's annual fee, when paid or owing to the Trustee, are secured by
a lien on the Trust. In addition, the Trustee is empowered to sell
Equity Securities in the Trust in order to make funds available to pay
all these amounts if funds are not otherwise available in the Income and
Capital Accounts of the Trust. Since the Equity Securities are all
common stocks and the income stream produced by dividend payments is
unpredictable, the Sponsor cannot provide any assurance that dividends
will be sufficient to meet any or all expenses of the Trust. As
described above, if dividends are insufficient to cover expenses, it is
likely that Equity Securities will have to be sold to meet Trust
expenses. These sales may result in capital gains or losses to Unit
holders. See "What is the Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders?"

The Indenture requires the Trust to be audited on an annual basis at the
expense of the Trust by independent auditors selected by the Sponsor. So
long as the Sponsor is making a secondary market for the Units, the
Sponsor is required to bear the cost of such annual audits to the extent
such cost exceeds $0.0050 per Unit. Unit holders of the Trust covered by
an audit may obtain a copy of the audited financial statements upon
request.

What is the Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders?

This is a general discussion of certain of the Federal income tax
consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the Units.
The summary is limited to investors who hold the Units as "capital
assets" (generally, property held for investment) within the meaning of
Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"). Unit
holders should consult their tax advisors in determining the Federal,
state, local and any other tax consequences of the purchase, ownership
and disposition of Units in the Trust. For purposes of the following
discussion and opinions, it is assumed that each Equity Security is
equity for Federal income tax purposes.

Page 8

In the opinion of Chapman and Cutler, special counsel for the Sponsor,
under existing law:

1.   The Trust is not an association taxable as a corporation for
Federal income tax purposes; each Unit holder will be treated as the
owner of a pro rata portion of each of the assets of the Trust under the
Code; and the income of the Trust will be treated as income of the Unit
holders thereof under the Code. Each Unit holder will be considered to
have received his or her pro rata share of the income derived from each
Equity Security when such income is considered to be received by the
Trust.

2.   Each Unit holder will be considered to have received all of the
dividends paid on his or her pro rata portion of each Equity Security
when such dividends are considered to be received by the Trust
regardless of whether such dividends are used to pay a portion of the
deferred sales charge. Unit holders will be taxed in this manner
regardless of whether distributions from such Trust are actually
received by the Unit holder.

3.   Each Unit holder will have a taxable event when the Trust disposes
of an Equity Security (whether by sale, taxable exchange, liquidation,
redemption, or otherwise) or upon the sale or redemption of Units by
such Unit holder (except to the extent an In-Kind distribution of stocks
is received by such Unit holder as described below). The price a Unit
holder pays for his or her Units, generally including sales charges, is
allocated among his or her pro rata portion of each Equity Security held
by the Trust (in proportion to the fair market values thereof on the
valuation date closest to the date the Unit holder purchases his or her
Units) in order to determine his or her tax basis for his or her pro
rata portion of each Equity Security held by the Trust. Unit holders
should consult their own tax advisors with regard to the calculation of
basis. For Federal income tax purposes, a Unit holder's pro rata portion
of dividends, as defined by Section 316 of the Code, paid by a
corporation with respect to an Equity Security held by the Trust is
taxable as ordinary income to the extent of such corporation's current
and accumulated "earnings and profits." A Unit holder's pro rata portion
of dividends paid on such Equity Security which exceed such current and
accumulated earnings and profits will first reduce a Unit holder's tax
basis in such Equity Security, and to the extent that such dividends
exceed a Unit holder's tax basis in such Equity Security shall generally
be treated as capital gain. In general, the holding period for such
capital gain will be determined by the period of time a Unit holder has
held his or her Units.

4.   A Unit holder's portion of gain, if any, upon the sale or
redemption of Units or the disposition of Equity Securities held by the
Trust will generally be considered a capital gain (except in the case of
a dealer or a financial institution). A Unit holder's portion of loss,
if any, upon the sale or redemption of Units or the disposition of
Equity Securities held by the Trust will generally be considered a
capital loss (except in the case of a dealer or a financial
institution). Unit holders should consult their tax advisors regarding
the recognition of such capital gains and losses for Federal income tax
purposes.

Deferred Sales Charge. Generally, the tax basis of a Unit holder
includes sales charges, and such charges are not deductible. A portion
of the sales charge for the Trust is deferred. It is possible that for
Federal income tax purposes a portion of the deferred sales charge may
be treated as interest which would be deductible by a Unit holder
subject to limitations on the deduction of investment interest. In such
a case, the non-interest portion of the deferred sales charge would be
added to the Unit holder's tax basis in his or her Units. The deferred
sales charge could cause the Unit holder's Units to be considered to be
debt-financed under Section 246A of the Code which would result in a
small reduction of the dividends-received deduction. In any case, the
income (or proceeds from redemption) a Unit holder must take into
account for Federal income tax purposes is not reduced by amounts
deducted to pay the deferred sales charge. Unit holders should consult
their own tax advisors as to the income tax consequences of the deferred
sales charge.

Dividends Received Deduction. A corporation that owns Units will
generally be entitled to a 70% dividends received deduction with respect
to such Unit holder's pro rata portion of dividends received by the
Trust (to the extent such dividends are taxable as ordinary income, as
discussed above, and are attributable to domestic corporations) in the
same manner as if such corporation directly owned the Equity Securities
paying such dividends (other than corporate Unit holders, such as "S"
corporations, which are not eligible for the deduction because of their

Page 9

special characteristics and other than for purposes of special taxes
such as the accumulated earnings tax and the personal holding
corporation tax). However, a corporation owning Units should be aware
that Sections 246 and 246A of the Code impose additional limitations on
the eligibility of dividends for the 70% dividends received deduction.
These limitations include a requirement that stock (and therefore Units)
must generally be held at least 46 days (as determined under, and during
the period specified in, Section 246(c) of the Code). Final regulations
have been issued which address special rules that must be considered in
determining whether the 46-day holding period requirement is met.
Moreover, the allowable percentage of the deduction will be reduced from
70% if a corporate Unit holder owns certain stock (or Units) the
financing of which is directly attributable to indebtedness incurred by
such corporation.

To the extent dividends received by a Trust are attributable to foreign
corporations, a corporation that owns Units will not be entitled to the
dividends received deduction with respect to its pro rata portion of
such dividends, since the dividends received deduction is generally
available only with respect to dividends paid by domestic corporations.
It should be noted that various legislative proposals that would affect
the dividends received deduction have been introduced. Unit holders
should consult with their tax advisors with respect to the limitations
on and possible modifications to the dividends received deduction.

Limitations on Deductibility of the Trust's Expenses by Unit Holders.
Each Unit holder's pro rata share of each expense paid by the Trust is
deductible by the Unit holder to the same extent as though the expense
had been paid directly by such Unit holder. It should be noted that as a
result of the Tax Reform Act of 1986, certain miscellaneous itemized
deductions, such as investment expenses, tax return preparation fees and
employee business expenses will be deductible by an individual only to
the extent they exceed 2% of such individual's adjusted gross income.
Unit holders may be required to treat some or all of the expenses of the
Trust as miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to this limitation.
Unit holders should consult with their tax advisors regarding the
limitations on the deductibility of Trust expenses.

Recognition of Taxable Gain or Loss Upon Disposition of Securities by
the Trust or Disposition of Units. As discussed above, a Unit holder may
recognize taxable gain (or loss) when a Security is disposed of by the
Trust or if the Unit holder disposes of a Unit. The Internal Revenue
Service Restructuring and Reform Act of 1998 (the "1998 Tax Act")
provides that for taxpayers other than corporations, net capital gain
(which is defined as net long-term capital gain over net short-term
capital loss for the taxable year) realized from property (with certain
exclusions) is subject to a maximum marginal stated tax rate of 20% (10%
in the case of certain taxpayers in the lowest tax bracket). Capital
gain or loss is long-term if the holding period for the asset is more
than one year, and is short-term if the holding period for the asset is
one year or less. The date on which a Unit is acquired (i.e., the "trade
date") is excluded for purposes of determining the holding period of the
Unit. The legislation is generally effective retroactively for amounts
properly taken into account on or after January 1, 1998. Capital gains
realized from assets held for one year or less are taxed at the same
rates as ordinary income.

In addition, please note that capital gains may be recharacterized as
ordinary income in the case of certain financial transactions that are
considered "conversion transactions" effective for transactions entered
into after April 30, 1993. Unit holders and prospective investors should
consult with their tax advisors regarding the potential effect of this
provision on their investment in Units.

If the Unit holder disposes of a Unit, he or she is deemed thereby to
have disposed of his or her entire pro rata interest in all assets of
the Trust, including his or her pro rata portion of all the Equity
Securities represented by the Unit.

The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 (the "1997 Act") includes provisions
that treat certain transactions designed to reduce or eliminate risk of
loss and opportunities for gain (e.g., short sales, off-setting notional
principal contracts, futures or forward contracts, or similar
transactions) as constructive sales for purposes of recognition of gain
(but not loss) and for purposes of determining the holding period. Unit
holders should consult their own tax advisors with regard to any such
constructive sales rules.

Special Tax Consequences of In-Kind Distributions Upon Redemption of
Units or Termination of the Trust. As discussed in "Rights of Unit
Holders-How are Income and Capital Distributed?", under certain
circumstances a Unit holder who owns at least 2,500 Units of the Trust

Page 10

may request an In-Kind Distribution upon the redemption of Units or the
termination of the Trust. The Unit holder requesting an In-Kind
Distribution will be liable for expenses related thereto (the
"Distribution Expenses") and the amount of such In-Kind Distribution
will be reduced by the amount of the Distribution Expenses. See "Rights
of Unit Holders-How are Income and Capital Distributed?" As previously
discussed, prior to the redemption of Units or the termination of the
Trust, a Unit holder is considered as owning a pro rata portion of each
of the Trust's assets for Federal income tax purposes. The receipt of an
In-Kind Distribution will result in a Unit holder receiving an undivided
interest in whole shares of stock plus, possibly, cash.

The potential tax consequences that may occur under an In-Kind
Distribution will depend on whether or not a Unit holder receives cash
in addition to Equity Securities. An "Equity Security" for this purpose
is a particular class of stock issued by a particular corporation. A
Unit holder will not recognize gain or loss if a Unit holder only
receives Equity Securities in exchange for his or her pro rata portion
in the Equity Securities held by the Trust. However, if a Unit holder
also receives cash in exchange for a fractional share of an Equity
Security held by the Trust, such Unit holder will generally recognize
gain or loss based upon the difference between the amount of cash
received by the Unit holder and his or her tax basis in such fractional
share of an Equity Security held by the Trust.

Because the Trust will own many Equity Securities, a Unit holder who
requests an In-Kind Distribution will have to analyze the tax
consequences with respect to each Security owned by the Trust. The
amount of taxable gain (or loss) recognized upon such exchange will
generally equal the sum of the gain (or loss) recognized under the rules
described above by such Unit holder with respect to each Equity Security
owned by the Trust. Unit holders who request an In-Kind Distribution are
advised to consult their tax advisors in this regard.

Computation of the Unit Holder's Tax Basis. Initially, a Unit holder's
tax basis in his or her Units will generally equal the price paid by
such Unit holder for his or her Units. The cost of the Units is
allocated among the Equity Securities held in the Trust in accordance
with the proportion of the fair market values of such Equity Securities
as of the valuation date nearest the date the Units are purchased in
order to determine such Unit holder's tax basis for his or her pro rata
portion of each Equity Security.

A Unit holder's tax basis in his or her Units and his or her pro rata
portion of an Equity Security held by the Trust will be reduced to the
extent dividends paid with respect to such Equity Security are received
by the Trust which are not taxable as ordinary income as described above.

General. Each Unit holder will be requested to provide the Unit holder's
taxpayer identification number to the Trustee and to certify that the
Unit holder has not been notified that payments to the Unit holder are
subject to back-up withholding. If the proper taxpayer identification
number and appropriate certification are not provided when requested,
distributions by the Trust to such Unit holder (including amounts
received upon the redemption of Units) will be subject to back-up
withholding. Distributions by the Trust (other than those that are not
treated as U.S. source income, if any) will generally be subject to U.S.
income taxation and withholding in the case of Units held by non-
resident alien individuals, foreign corporations or other non-U.S.
persons. Such persons should consult their tax advisors.

In general, income that is not effectively connected to the conduct of a
trade or business within the United States that is earned by non-U.S.
Unit holders and derived from dividends of foreign corporations will not
be subject to U.S. withholding tax provided that less than 25 percent of
the gross income of the foreign corporation for a three-year period
ending with the close of its taxable year preceding payment was not
effectively connected to the conduct of a trade or business within the
United States. In addition, such earnings may be exempt from U.S.
withholding pursuant to a specific treaty between the United States and
a foreign country. Non-U.S. Unit holders should consult their own tax
advisors regarding the imposition of U.S. withholding on distributions
from the Trust.

It should be noted that payments to the Trust of dividends on Equity
Securities that are attributable to foreign corporations may be subject
to foreign withholding taxes and Unit holders should consult their tax
advisors regarding the potential tax consequences relating to the
payment of any such withholding taxes by the Trusts. Any dividends
withheld as a result thereof will nevertheless be treated as income to
the Unit holders. Because, under the grantor trust rules, an investor is
deemed to have paid directly his or her share of foreign taxes that have
been paid or accrued, if any, an investor may be entitled to a foreign
tax credit or deduction for U.S. income tax purposes with respect to

Page 11

such taxes. The 1997 Tax Act imposes a required holding period for such
credits. Investors should consult their tax advisors with respect to
foreign withholding taxes and foreign tax credits. 

At the termination of the Trust, the Trustee will furnish to each Unit
holder a statement containing information relating to the dividends
received by the Trust on the Equity Securities, the gross proceeds
received by the Trust from the disposition of any Equity Security
(resulting from redemption or the sale of any Equity Security) and the
fees and expenses paid by the Trust. The Trustee will also furnish
annual information returns to Unit holders and to the Internal Revenue
Service.

Unit holders desiring to purchase Units for tax-deferred plans and IRAs
should consult their broker for details on establishing such accounts.
Units may also be purchased by persons who already have self-directed
plans established. See "Are Investments in the Trust Eligible for
Retirement Plans?"

In the opinion of Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, Special Counsel to the
Trust for New York tax matters, under the existing income tax laws of
the State of New York, each Trust is not an association taxable as a
corporation and the income of such Trusts will be treated as the income
of the Unit holders thereof.

The foregoing discussion relates only to the tax treatment of United
States Unit holders with regard to United States Federal income taxes;
Unit holders may be subject to foreign, state and local taxation. As
used herein, the term "U.S. Unit holder" means an owner of a Unit in the
Trust that (a) is (i) for United States Federal income tax purposes a
citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a corporation,
partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the laws of
the United States or of any political subdivision thereof, or (iii) an
estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States Federal
income taxation regardless of its source or (b) does not qualify as a
U.S. Unit holder in paragraph (a) but whose income from a Unit is
effectively connected with such Unit holder's conduct of a United States
trade or business. The term also includes certain former citizens of the
United States whose income and gain on the Units will be taxable. Unit
holders should consult their tax advisors regarding potential state or
local taxation with respect to the Units.

Are Investments in the Trust Eligible for Retirement Plans?

Units of the Trust are eligible for purchase by Individual Retirement
Accounts, Keogh Plans, pension funds and other tax-deferred retirement
plans. Generally, the Federal income tax relating to capital gains and
income received in each of the foregoing plans is deferred until
distributions are received. Distributions from such plans are generally
treated as ordinary income but may, in some cases, be eligible for
special averaging or tax-deferred rollover treatment. Investors
considering participation in any such plan should review specific tax
laws related thereto and should consult their attorneys or tax advisors
with respect to the establishment and maintenance of any such plan. Such
plans are offered by brokerage firms and other financial institutions.
Fees and charges with respect to such plans may vary.

                                PORTFOLIO

What are the Equity Securities?

The Trust consists of different issues of Equity Securities issued by
companies listed on a national securities exchange or The Nasdaq Stock
Market or traded in the over-the-counter market. See "What are the
Equity Securities Selected for the Strategic Communications & Technology
Trust Series?" for a general description of the companies.

What are the Equity Securities Selected for the Strategic Communications
& Technology Trust Series?

   
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS
    

   
AT&T Corporation, headquartered in New York, New York, is one of the
world's communications leaders providing voice, data and video
telecommunications services; regional, domestic, international and local
communication transmission services; cellular telephone and other
wireless services; billing, directory and calling card services.
    

   
AirTouch Communications, headquartered in San Francisco, California,
provides wireless telecommunications services to subscribers in the

Page 12

United States, Europe and Asia and paging services in the United States.
    

   
British Telecommunications Plc (ADR), headquartered in London, England,
provides local and long-distance telephone service in the United Kingdom
including telephone exchange lines to homes and businesses,
international telephone services from and to the United Kingdom and
private circuits to businesses.
    

   
Cable & Wireless Plc (ADR), headquartered in London, England, provides
telecommunications services in more than 70 countries including
telephone, facsimile, Internet, cable tv, multimedia, data transmission
and the sale and rental of telecommunications equipment.
    

   
Comcast Corporation (Class A), headquartered in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, develops, manages and operates wired telecommunications
through principal ownership of "QVC," "C3" and controlling interest in
"E! Entertainment".
    

   
Iridium World Communications Ltd. (Class A), headquartered in Hamilton,
Bermuda, acts as a member of Iridium LLC, a concern that is developing
and commercializing a global mobile wireless communications system that
will enable subscribers to send and receive telephone calls virtually
anywhere in the world, all with one phone, one phone number and one
customer bill.
    

   
MCI WorldCom, Inc., headquartered in Jackson, Mississippi, provides
fully integrated local, long distance, international and Internet
services. The company operates in more than 65 countries including North
America, South America, Europe and the Asia-Pacific regions.
    

   
Nextel Communications, Inc., headquartered in McLean, Virginia, with
subsidiaries, provides a wide array of digital and analog wireless
communications services throughout the United States.
    

   
Omnipoint Corporation, headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, provides
wireless digital communications services in the metropolitan New York
area, New England, Philadelphia and parts of eastern Pennsylvania. The
company also develops technology and equipment for personal
communications services and wireless local loop.
    

   
PanAmSat Corporation, headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut, provides
commercial satellite services in the United States, Africa, Asia, the
Caribbean, Europe, Latin America and the Middle East. The company also
provides satellite services, mainly to the broadcasting and business
communications markets.
    

   
SBC Communications Inc., headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, provides
landline and wireless telecommunications services and equipment,
directory advertising, publishing and cable television services in
Texas, Arkansas, California, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada and Oklahoma.
    

   
Vodafone Group Plc (ADR), headquartered in Newbury, England, provides
mobile telecommunications services in 13 countries.
    

   
EQUIPMENT MAKERS
    

   
ADC Telecommunications, Inc., headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota,
designs, makes and markets a broad range of products and services that
enable its customers to construct and upgrade their telecommunications
networks to support increasing user demand for voice, data and video
services.
    

   
L.M. Ericsson AB (ADR), headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden, provides
advanced systems, products and services for handling voice, data, image
and text in public and private wired and mobile telecommunications
networks, telecommunications power equipment, and telecommunications and
power cable systems.
    

   
General Motors Corporation (Class H) represents Hughes Electronics,
headquartered in El Segundo, California, which produces and sells
communications and electronics products to the automotive industries.
    

   
Lucent Technologies Inc., headquartered in Murray Hill, New Jersey, is
one of the world's leading designers, developers and manufacturers of
telecommunications systems, software and products; and is a leading
global marketer of business communications systems and computers.
    

   
Motorola, Inc., headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, designs, makes
and sells, mainly under the "Motorola" brand name, two-way land mobile
communication systems, paging and wireless data systems, personal
communications equipment and systems; semiconductors; and electronic
equipment for military and aerospace use.
    

Page 13

   
Nokia Oy (Class A) (ADR), headquartered in Espoo, Finland, makes mobile
phones, computer monitors, multimedia network terminals and battery
chargers for mobile phones; and satellite receivers and video
conferencing equipment.
    

   
Northern Telecom, headquartered in Brampton, Ontario, Canada, makes
fully digital telecommunications switching equipment and communications
equipment and systems for business and residential use.
    

   
QUALCOMM Inc., headquartered in San Diego, California, designs,
develops, makes, sells, licenses and operates advanced communications
systems and products based on proprietary digital wireless technology.
    

   
Tellabs, Inc., headquartered in Lisle, Illinois, designs, makes and
services voice and data transport and network access systems used by
public telephone companies, long-distance carriers, alternate service
providers, cellular and other wireless service providers, cable
operators, government agencies, utilities and business end-users.
    

   
HARDWARE & NETWORKING PROVIDERS
    

   
Ascend Communications, Inc., headquartered in Alameda, California,
develops, makes, markets, sells and supports a broad range of high-speed
digital wide-area network access products that enable its customers to
build Internet access systems, extensions and enhancements to corporate
backbone networks and videoconferencing and multimedia access facilities.
    

   
Cabletron Systems, headquartered in Rochester, New Hampshire, develops,
makes, markets, installs and supports a broad range of standards-based
local and wide-area network connectivity hardware and software products.
    

   
Cisco Systems, Inc., headquartered in San Jose, California, develops,
makes, sells and supports high performance Internet-working systems that
link geographically dispersed local-area and wide-area networks to form
a single, seamless information infrastructure.
    

   
Compaq Computer Corporation, headquartered in Houston, Texas, makes and
markets desktop personal computers, portable computers, workstations,
communications products and tower PC servers and peripheral products
that store and manage data in network environments.
    

   
Dell Computer Corporation, headquartered in Round Rock, Texas, designs,
develops, makes, sells, services and supports a broad range of computer
systems, including desktops, notebooks and servers compatible with
industry standards under the "Dell" brand name. The company also sells
software, peripheral equipment, and service and support programs.
    

   
EMC Corporation, headquartered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, designs,
makes, markets and supports a wide range of storage-related hardware,
software and service products for the open systems, mainframe and
network-attached information storage and retrieval system market.
    

   
SEMICONDUCTOR & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING
    

   
Applied Materials, Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California,
develops, makes, sells and services semiconductor wafer fabrication
equipment and related spare parts for the worldwide semiconductor
industry.
    

   
Intel Corporation, headquartered in Santa Clara, California, designs,
develops, makes and markets advanced microcomputer components and
related products at various levels of integration. Microcomputer
components are integrated circuits consisting of silicon-based
semiconductors etched with complex patterns of transistors.
    

   
LSI Logic Corporation, headquartered in Milpitas, California, designs,
develops, makes and sells application-specific integrated circuits.
    

   
Micron Technology, Inc., headquartered in Boise, Idaho, through
subsidiaries, designs, develops, makes and sells semiconductor memory
products, personal computer systems and custom complex printed circuit
board, memory module and system level assemblies.
    

   
PRI Automation, Inc., headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts, makes
and sells factory automation systems and related software which are used
to automate the fabrication of integrated circuits in cleanroom
manufacturing operations. The company also provides automation services,
including system integration, factory simulation, project management and
on-site support.
    

Page 14


   
Scientific-Atlanta, Inc., headquartered in Norcross, Georgia, produces
digital video, voice and data communications products. Products connect
information generators with information users via broadband terrestrial
and satellite networks and include applications for the converging
cable, telephone and data networks.
    

   
SOFTWARE & INTERNET-RELATED
    

   
America Online, Inc., headquartered in Dulles, Virginia, provides online
services to consumers in the United States, Canada, Europe and Japan,
offering subscribers a wide variety of services including electronic
mail, conferencing, news, sports, Internet access, entertainment,
weather, stock quotes, software, computing support and online classes.
    

   
CheckFree Holdings Corporation, headquartered in Norcross, Georgia,
provides electronic commerce services, financial application software
and related products for financial institutions and businesses and their
customers.
    

   
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., headquartered in Ramat-Gan,
Israel, develops, markets and supports management products for active
networks including the "FireWall" suite for virtual private networking.
    

   
Computer Sciences Corporation, headquartered in El Segundo, California,
provides management consulting and education and research programs in
the strategic use of information resources; designs, develops, and
installs computer-based and communications systems; and provides
outsourcing services, consumer credit-related services and automated
systems.
    

   
E*TRADE Group, Inc., headquartered in Palo Alto, California, provides
online discount brokerage services using its proprietary processing
technology. Services include automated order placement, portfolio
tracking and related market information, news and other information.
    

   
Intuit Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, California, develops, sells
and supports personal finance, small business accounting, tax
preparation and other consumer software products, and related electronic
services and supplies that enable users to automate commonly performed
financial tasks.
    

   
Microsoft Corporation, headquartered in Redmond, Washington, makes,
sells and licenses software products including operating systems, server
applications, business and consumer products, Internet software
technologies and development tools. The company also markets personal
computer books and input devices and researches and develops software
technologies.
    

   
Oracle Corporation, headquartered in Redwood City, California, designs,
develops, markets and supports computer software products with a wide
variety of uses, including database management and network products,
application development and business intelligence productivity tools and
client server business applications.
    

   
Charles Schwab Corporation, headquartered in San Francisco, California,
through subsidiaries, provides discount securities brokerage and related
financial services and offers trade execution services for Nasdaq
securities to broker/dealers and institutional customers. The company
offers many online services, including trading of stocks and access to
research.
    

   
Secure Computing Corporation, headquartered in San Jose, California,
designs and assembles products to enable electronic commerce by
protecting an organization's computer network and its computers from
access by unauthorized users.
    

   
Yahoo! Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara, California, offers a family
of branded online media properties, including "YAHOO!," that are among
the most widely used sources of information and discovery on the World
Wide Web.
    

The Sponsor has obtained the foregoing descriptions from sources it
deems reliable. The Sponsor has not independently verified the provided
information either in terms of accuracy or completeness.

Risk Factors. An investment in Units of the Trust should be made with an
understanding of the problems and risks such an investment may entail.

Communications and technology companies generally include companies
involved in the development, design, manufacture and sale of computers,
computer-related equipment, computer networks, communications systems,
telecommunications products, electronic products and other related
products, systems and services. The market for these products is
characterized by rapidly changing technology, rapid product

Page 15

obsolescence, cyclical market patterns, evolving industry standards and
frequent new product introductions. The success of the issuers of the
Equity Securities depends in substantial part on the timely and
successful introduction of new products, services and technologies. An
unexpected change in one or more of the technologies affecting an
issuer's products or in the market for products based on a particular
technology could have a material adverse affect on an issuer's operating
results. Furthermore, there can be no assurance that the issuers of the
Equity Securities will be able to respond in a timely manner to compete
in the rapidly developing marketplace.

   
Based on trading history of communications and technology stocks,
factors such as announcements of new products or development of new
technologies and general conditions of the industry have caused and are
likely to cause the market price of communications and technology common
stocks to fluctuate substantially. In addition, such stocks have
experienced extreme price and volume fluctuations that often have been
unrelated to the operating performance of such companies. This market
volatility may adversely affect the market price of the Equity
Securities and therefore the ability of a Unit holder to redeem Units at
a price equal to or greater than the original price paid for such Units.
    

Some key components of certain products of communications and technology
issuers are currently available only from single sources. There can be
no assurance that in the future suppliers will be able to meet the
demand for components in a timely and cost effective manner.
Accordingly, an issuer's operating results and customer relationships
could be adversely affected by either an increase in price for, or an
interruption or reduction in supply of, any key components.
Additionally, many such issuers are characterized by a highly
concentrated customer base consisting of a limited number of large
customers who may require product vendors to comply with rigorous
industry standards. Any failure to comply with such standards may result
in a significant loss or reduction of sales. Because many products and
technologies of communications and technology companies are incorporated
into other related products, such companies are often highly dependent
on the performance of the personal computer, electronics and other
related industries. There can be no assurance that these customers will
place additional orders, or that an issuer of Equity Securities will
obtain orders of similar magnitude as past orders from other customers.
Similarly, the success of certain technology companies is tied to a
relatively small concentration of products or technologies. Accordingly,
a decline in demand of such products, technologies or from such
customers could have a material adverse impact on issuers of the Equity
Securities.

   
Many communications and technology companies rely on a combination of
patents, copyrights, trademarks and trade secret laws to establish and
protect their proprietary rights in their products and technologies.
There can be no assurance that the steps taken by the issuers of the
Equity Securities to protect their proprietary rights will be adequate
to prevent misappropriation of their technology or that competitors will
not independently develop technologies that are substantially equivalent
or superior to such issuers' technology. In addition, due to the
increasing public use of the Internet, it is possible that other laws
and regulations may be adopted to address issues such as privacy,
pricing, characteristics, and quality of Internet products and services.
For example, recent proposals would prohibit the distribution of
obscene, lascivious or indecent communications on the Internet. The
adoption of any such laws could have a material adverse impact on the
securities in the Trust.
    

Like many areas of technology, the semiconductor business environment is
highly competitive, notoriously cyclical and subject to rapid and often
unanticipated change. Recent industry downturns have resulted, in part,
from weak pricing, persistent overcapacity, slowdown in Asian demand and
a shift in retail personal computer sales toward the low end, or "sub-
$1,000" segment. Industry growth is dependent upon several factors,
including: the rate of global economic expansion; demand for products
such as personal computers and networking and communications equipment;
excess productive capacity and the resultant effect on pricing; and the
rate of growth in the market for low-priced personal computers.

In the communications industry, the Telecommunications Act of 1996 broke
down many regulatory barriers in the United States, making it possible
for companies once precluded from offering multiple communication
services to now do so. Cable companies, for instance, can now offer
telephone services while telephone companies can offer video services.
Increased competition and opportunities will arise as telephone
companies are able to offer both long-distance and local services.
Governments worldwide are moving toward democracy and economies based on

Page 16

market-oriented policies. As part of this process, communications
systems are shifting from government-owned monopolies to publicly-owned
market-based companies. This worldwide deregulation is likely to
accelerate global demand for communications services. Due to the fast
pace of technological advances, domestic and global demand for
communications services and equipment is increasing. Recent advances,
such as wireless phones, fiber optics and the Internet, are allowing
businesses, individuals and governments greater access to a variety of
communications services at lower costs. This increased access, in turn,
is fueling the demand for products from manufacturers of communications
equipment and computer networks. In addition, future technological
advances will only serve to further reduce communications-related costs
and to stimulate demand.

The Trust consists of such of the Equity Securities listed under
"Schedule of Investments" as may continue to be held from time to time
in the Trust and any additional Equity Securities acquired and held by
the Trust pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture, together with
cash held in the Income and Capital Accounts. Neither the Sponsor nor
the Trustee shall be liable in any way for any failure in any of the
Equity Securities. However, should any contract for the purchase of any
of the Equity Securities initially deposited hereunder fail, the Sponsor
will, unless substantially all of the moneys held in the Trust to cover
such purchase are reinvested in substitute Equity Securities in
accordance with the Indenture, refund the cash and sales charge
attributable to such failed contract to all Unit holders on the next
distribution date.

Because certain of the Equity Securities from time to time may be sold
under certain circumstances described herein, and because the proceeds
from such events will be distributed to Unit holders and will not be
reinvested, no assurance can be given that the Trust will retain for any
length of time its present size and composition. Although the Portfolio
is not managed, the Sponsor may instruct the Trustee to sell Equity
Securities under certain limited circumstances. Pursuant to the
Indenture and with limited exceptions, the Trustee may sell or keep any
securities or other property acquired in exchange for Equity Securities
such as those acquired in connection with a merger or other transaction.
If offered such new or exchanged securities or property, the Trustee
shall reject the offer. However, in the event such securities or
property are nonetheless acquired by the Trust, they may be accepted for
deposit in the trust and either sold by the Trustee or held in the Trust
pursuant to the direction of the Sponsor (who may rely on the advice of
the Portfolio Supervisor). See "Rights of Unit Holders-How May Equity
Securities be Removed from the Trust?" Equity Securities, however, will
not be sold by the Trust to take advantage of market fluctuations or
changes in anticipated rates of appreciation or depreciation.

Whether or not the Equity Securities are listed on a national securities
exchange, the principal trading market for the Equity Securities may be
in the over-the-counter market. As a result, the existence of a liquid
trading market for the Equity Securities may depend on whether dealers
will make a market in the Equity Securities. There can be no assurance
that a market will be made for any of the Equity Securities, that any
market for the Equity Securities will be maintained or of the liquidity
of the Equity Securities in any markets made. In addition, the Trust may
be restricted under the Investment Company Act of 1940 from selling
Equity Securities to the Sponsor. The price at which the Equity
Securities may be sold to meet redemptions and the value of the Trust
will be adversely affected if trading markets for the Equity Securities
are limited or absent.

An investment in Units should be made with an understanding of the risks
which an investment in common stocks entails, including the risk that
the financial condition of the issuers of the Equity Securities or the
general condition of the common stock market may worsen, and the value
of the Equity Securities and therefore the value of the Units may
decline. Common stocks are especially susceptible to general stock
market movements and to volatile increases and decreases of value as
market confidence in and perceptions of the issuers change. These
perceptions are based on unpredictable factors, including expectations
regarding government, economic, monetary and fiscal policies, inflation
and interest rates, economic expansion or contraction, and global or
regional political, economic or banking crises. Shareholders of common
stocks have rights to receive payments from the issuers of those common
stocks that are generally subordinate to those of creditors of, or
holders of debt obligations or preferred stocks of, such issuers.
Shareholders of common stocks of the type held by the Trust have a right

Page 17

to receive dividends only when and if and in the amounts declared by the
issuer's board of directors, and they have a right to participate in
amounts available for distribution by the issuer only after all other
claims on the issuer have been paid or provided for. Common stocks do
not represent an obligation of the issuer and, therefore, do not offer
any assurance of income or provide the same degree of protection of
capital as do debt securities. The issuance of additional debt
securities or preferred stock will create prior claims for payment of
principal, interest and dividends which could adversely affect the
ability and inclination of the issuer to declare or pay dividends on its
common stock or the rights of holders of common stock with respect to
assets of the issuer upon liquidation or bankruptcy. The value of common
stocks is subject to market fluctuations for as long as the common
stocks remain outstanding, and thus the value of the Equity Securities
in the Portfolio may be expected to fluctuate over the life of the Trust
to values higher or lower than those prevailing on the Initial Date of
Deposit.

Holders of common stocks incur more risk than holders of preferred
stocks and debt obligations because common stockholders, as owners of
the entity, have generally inferior rights to receive payments from the
issuer in comparison with the rights of creditors of, or holders of debt
obligations or preferred stocks issued by, the issuer. Cumulative
preferred stock dividends must be paid before common stock dividends,
and any cumulative preferred stock dividend omitted is added to future
dividends payable to the holders of cumulative preferred stock.
Preferred stockholders are also generally entitled to rights on
liquidation which are senior to those of common stockholders.

Certain of the Equity Securities in the Trust are of foreign issuers,
and therefore, an investment in the Trust involves some investment risks
that are different in some respects from an investment in a trust that
invests entirely in securities of domestic issuers. Those investment
risks include future political and governmental restrictions which might
adversely affect the payment or receipt of payment of dividends on the
relevant Equity Securities, currency exchange rate fluctuations,
exchange control policies, and the limited liquidity and small market
capitalization of such foreign countries' securities markets. In
addition, for foreign issuers that are not subject to the reporting
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, there may be less
publicly available information than is available from a domestic issuer.
Also, foreign issuers are not necessarily subject to uniform accounting,
auditing and financial reporting standards, practices and requirements
comparable to those applicable to domestic issuers. However, due to the
nature of the issuers of the Equity Securities included in the Trust,
the Sponsor believes that adequate information will be available to
allow the Portfolio Supervisor to provide portfolio surveillance.

Certain of the Equity Securities in the Trust are in ADR or GDR form.
ADRs, which evidence American Depositary Receipts and GDRs, which
evidence Global Depositary Receipts, represent common stock deposited
with a custodian in a depositary. American Depositary Shares and Global
Depositary Shares (collectively, the "Depositary Receipts") are issued
by a bank or trust company to evidence ownership of underlying
securities issued by a foreign corporation. These instruments may not
necessarily be denominated in the same currency as the securities into
which they may be converted. For purposes of the discussion herein, the
terms ADR and GDR generally include American Depositary Shares and
Global Depositary Shares, respectively.

Depositary Receipts may be sponsored or unsponsored. In an unsponsored
facility, the depositary initiates and arranges the facility at the
request of market makers and acts as agent for the Depositary Receipts
holder, while the company itself is not involved in the transaction. In
a sponsored facility, the issuing company initiates the facility and
agrees to pay certain administrative and shareholder-related expenses.
Sponsored facilities use a single depositary and entail a contractual
relationship between the issuer, the shareholder and the depositary;
unsponsored facilities involve several depositaries with no contractual
relationship to the company. The depositary bank that issues Depositary
Receipts generally charges a fee, based on the price of the Depositary
Receipts, upon issuance and cancellation of the Depositary Receipts.
This fee would be in addition to the brokerage commissions paid upon the
acquisition or surrender of the security. In addition, the depositary
bank incurs expenses in connection with the conversion of dividends or
other cash distributions paid in local currency into U.S. dollars and
such expenses are deducted from the amount of the dividend or
distribution paid to holders, resulting in a lower payout per underlying
shares represented by the Depositary Receipts than would be the case if
the underlying share were held directly. Certain tax considerations,
including tax rate differentials and withholding requirements, arising
from applications of the tax laws of one nation to nationals of another
and from certain practices in the Depositary Receipts market may also
exist with respect to certain Depositary Receipts. In varying degrees,

Page 18

any or all of these factors may affect the value of the Depositary
Receipts compared with the value of the underlying shares in the local
market. In addition, the rights of holders of Depositary Receipts may be
different than those of holders of the underlying shares, and the market
for Depositary Receipts may be less liquid than that for the underlying
shares. Depositary Receipts are registered securities pursuant to the
Securities Act of 1933 and may be subject to the reporting requirements
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

For the Equity Securities that are Depositary Receipts, currency
fluctuations will affect the U.S. dollar equivalent of the local
currency price of the underlying domestic share and, as a result, are
likely to affect the value of the Depositary Receipts and consequently
the value of the Equity Securities. The foreign issuers of securities
that are Depositary Receipts may pay dividends in foreign currencies
which must be converted into dollars. Most foreign currencies have
fluctuated widely in value against the United States dollar for many
reasons, including supply and demand of the respective currency, the
soundness of the world economy and the strength of the respective
economy as compared to the economies of the United States and other
countries. Therefore, for any securities of issuers (whether or not they
are in Depositary Receipt form) whose earnings are stated in foreign
currencies, or which pay dividends in foreign currencies or which are
traded in foreign currencies, there is a risk that their United States
dollar value will vary with fluctuations in the United States dollar
foreign exchange rates for the relevant currencies.

Unit holders will be unable to dispose of any of the Equity Securities
in the Portfolio, as such, and will not be able to vote the Equity
Securities. As the holder of the Equity Securities, the Trustee will
have the right to vote all of the voting stocks in the Trust and will
vote such stocks in accordance with the instructions of the Sponsor.

Investors should note that because the Underwriter uses the list of
Equity Securities which comprise the portfolio in its independent
capacity as an investment advisor to individuals, mutual funds, employee
benefit plans and other institutions and persons and distributes this
information to various individuals and entities, the Underwriter may
recommend or effect from time to time the purchase or sale of one or
more of the Equity Securities. This may have an effect on the prices of
the Equity Securities which is adverse to the interest of the purchasers
of Units of the Trust. Additionally, this may have an impact on the
price paid by the Trust for the Equity Securities as well as the price
received upon redemption of the Units or upon the termination of the
Trust. Investors should also note that Equity Securities will not be
removed from the Trust and additional Units of the Trust may be created
even if the Underwriter no longer believes certain or all of the Equity
Securities have the potential to provide capital appreciation over the
life of the Trust or issues a sell recommendation regarding any of the
Equity Securities included in the Trust.

The Underwriter has acquired or may acquire the Equity Securities for
the Sponsor and thereby benefits from transaction fees. The Underwriter
in its general securities business acts as agent or principal in
connection with the purchase and sale of securities, including the
Equity Securities in the Trust, and may act as a market maker in certain
of the Equity Securities. The Underwriter also from time to time may
issue reports on and make recommendations relating to securities, which
may include the Equity Securities.

What are Some Additional Considerations for Investors?

Investors should be aware of certain other considerations before making
a decision to invest in the Trust.

The value of the Equity Securities will fluctuate over the life of the
Trust and may be more or less than the price at which they were
deposited in the Trust. The Equity Securities may appreciate or
depreciate in value (or pay dividends), depending on the full range of
economic and market influences affecting these securities.

The Sponsor and the Trustee shall not be liable in any way for any
default, failure or defect in any Security. In the event of a notice
that any Security will not be delivered ("Failed Contract Obligations")
to the Trust, the Sponsor is authorized under the Indenture to direct
the Trustee to acquire other Equity Securities ("Replacement
Securities"). Any Replacement Security will be identical to those which
were the subject of the Failed Contract Obligation. The Replacement

Page 19

Securities must be purchased within 20 days after delivery of the notice
of a failed contract, and the purchase price may not exceed the amount
of funds reserved for the purchase of the Failed Contract Obligations.

If the right of limited substitution described in the preceding
paragraphs is not utilized to acquire Replacement Securities in the
event of a failed contract, the Sponsor will refund the sales charge
attributable to such Failed Contract Obligations to all Unit holders of
the Trust, and the Trustee will distribute the principal attributable to
such Failed Contract Obligations not more than 120 days after the date
on which the Trustee received a notice from the Sponsor that a
Replacement Security would not be deposited in the Trust. In addition,
Unit holders should be aware that, at the time of receipt of such
principal, they may not be able to reinvest such proceeds in other
securities at a yield equal to or in excess of the yield which such
proceeds would have earned for Unit holders of the Trust.

The Indenture also authorizes the Sponsor to increase the size of the
Trust and the number of Units thereof by the deposit of additional
Equity Securities or cash (including a letter of credit) with
instructions to purchase additional Equity Securities in the Trust and
the issuance of a corresponding number of additional Units. If the
Sponsor deposits cash, however, existing and new investors may
experience a dilution of their investment and a reduction in their
anticipated income because of fluctuations in the prices of the Equity
Securities between the time of the cash deposit and the purchase of the
Equity Securities and because the Trust will pay the associated
brokerage fees.

The Trust consists of the Equity Securities listed under "Schedule of
Investments" (or contracts to purchase such Equity Securities) as may
continue to be held from time to time in the Trust and any additional
Equity Securities acquired and held by the Trust pursuant to the
provisions of the Indenture (including provisions with respect to
deposits into the Trust of Equity Securities or cash in connection with
the issuance of additional Units).

Once all of the Equity Securities in the Trust are acquired, the Trustee
will have no power to vary the investments of the Trust, i.e., the
Trustee will have no managerial power to take advantage of market
variations to improve a Unit holder's investment, and may dispose of
Equity Securities only under limited circumstances. See "Rights of Unit
Holders-How May Equity Securities be Removed from the Trust?"

Like other investment companies, financial and business organizations
and individuals around the world, the Trust could be adversely affected
if the computer systems used by the Sponsor, Evaluator, Portfolio
Supervisor or Trustee or other service providers to the Trust do not
properly process and calculate date-related information and data from
and after January 1, 2000. This is commonly known as the "Year 2000
Problem." The Sponsor, Evaluator, Portfolio Supervisor and Trustee are
taking steps that they believe are reasonably designed to address the
Year 2000 Problem with respect to computer systems that they use and to
obtain reasonable assurances that comparable steps are being taken by
the Trust's other service providers. At this time, however, there can be
no assurance that these steps will be sufficient to avoid any adverse
impact to the Trust.

The Year 2000 Problem is expected to impact corporations, which may
include issuers of the Equity Securities contained in the Trust, to
varying degrees based upon various factors, including, but not limited
to, their industry sector and degree of technological sophistication.
The Sponsor is unable to predict what impact, if any, the Year 2000
Problem will have on issuers of the Equity Securities contained in the
Trust.

To the best of the Sponsor's knowledge, there is no litigation pending
as of the Initial Date of Deposit in respect of any Security which might
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Trust.
At any time after the Initial Date of Deposit, litigation may be
instituted on a variety of grounds with respect to the Equity
Securities. The Sponsor is unable to predict whether any such litigation
will be instituted, or if instituted, whether such litigation might have
a material adverse effect on the Trust.

Legislation. From time to time Congress considers proposals to reduce
the rate of the dividends-received deductions. Enactment into law of a
proposal to reduce the rate would adversely affect the after-tax return
to investors who can take advantage of the deduction. Unit holders are
urged to consult their own tax advisors. Further, at any time after the
Initial Date of Deposit, legislation may be enacted that could
negatively affect the Equity Securities in the Trust or the issuers of
the Equity Securities. Changing approaches to regulation, particularly
with respect to the environment or with respect to the petroleum
industry, may have a negative impact on certain companies represented in
the Trust. There can be no assurance that future legislation, regulation
or deregulation will not have a material adverse effect on the Trust or
will not impair the ability of the issuers of the Equity Securities to
achieve their business goals.

Page 20


                             PUBLIC OFFERING

How is the Public Offering Price Determined?

   
Units are offered at the Public Offering Price. During the initial
offering period, the Public Offering Price is based on the aggregate
underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust (generally
determined by the closing sale prices of listed Equity Securities and
the ask prices of over-the-counter traded Equity Securities), plus or
minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust,
plus an initial sales charge equal to the difference between the maximum
sales charge of 5.0% of the Public Offering Price and the maximum
remaining deferred sales charge, initially $.35 per Unit, divided by the
number of Units of the Trust outstanding. Commencing on March 19, 1999,
and on the twentieth day of each month thereafter (or, if such day is
not a business day, on the preceding business day), through September
20, 1999, a deferred sales charge of $.05 will be assessed per Unit per
month. Units purchased subsequent to the initial deferred sales charge
payment but still during the initial offering period will be subject to
the initial sales charge and the remaining deferred sales charge
payments not yet collected. The deferred sales charge will be paid from
funds in the Capital Account, if sufficient, or from the periodic sale
of Equity Securities. The total maximum sales charge assessed to Unit
holders on a per Unit basis will be 5.0% of the Public Offering Price
(equivalent to 5.076% of the net amount invested, exclusive of the
deferred sales charge). In addition, a portion of the Public Offering
Price on Units purchased prior to the earlier of six months after the
Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the initial offering period also
consists of Equity Securities in an amount sufficient to pay for all or
a portion of the costs incurred in establishing the Trust, including the
costs of preparing the registration statement, the Indenture and other
closing documents, registering Units with the Securities and Exchange
Commission and states, the initial audit of the Trust portfolio, legal
fees and the initial fees and expenses of the Trustee. The
organizational and offering costs will be deducted from the assets of
the Trust as of the earlier of six months after the Initial Date of
Deposit or the end of the initial offering period. Upon completion of
the deferred sales charge period, the secondary market Public Offering
Price per Unit for the Trust will not include deferred payments, but
will instead include only a one-time initial sales charge of 5.0% of the
Public Offering Price (equivalent to 5.263% of the net amount invested),
which will be reduced by 1/2 of 1% on each October 29, commencing
October 29, 1999 to a minimum sales charge of 3.0%.
    

During the initial offering period, the Sponsor's Repurchase Price is
based on the aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the
Trust (generally determined by the closing sale prices of listed Equity
Securities and the ask prices of over-the-counter traded Equity
Securities), plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital
Accounts of the Trust, plus, until the earlier of six months after the
Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the initial offering period,
estimated organizational and offering costs, divided by the number of
Units of the Trust outstanding, and reduced by the deferred sales charge
not yet paid. During the secondary market, the Sponsor's Repurchase
Price is also based on the aggregate underlying value of the Equity
Securities in the Trust (generally determined by the closing sale prices
of listed Equity Securities and the bid prices of over-the-counter
traded Equity Securities), plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income and
Capital Accounts of the Trust, divided by the number of outstanding
Units in the Trust.

The minimum amount which an investor may purchase of the Trust is
$1,000. The Sponsor reserves the right to reject, in whole or in part,
any order for the purchase of Units. The applicable sales charge for
both primary and secondary market sales is reduced by a discount as
indicated below for volume purchases as a percentage of the Public
Offering Price (except for sales made pursuant to a "wrap fee account"
or similar arrangements as set forth below):

Page 21


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Primary and Secondary                   
                                                              _____________________                   
                                                              Percent of          Percent of          
Dollar Amount of Transaction                                  Offering            Net Amount          
at Public Offering Price*                                     Price               Invested            
____________________________                                  __________          __________          
<S>                                                           <C>                 <C>                 
$ 50,000 but less than $100,000                               0.25%               0.2506%             
$100,000 but less than $250,000                               0.50%               0.5025%             
$250,000 but less than $500,000                               1.00%               1.0101%             
$500,000 or more                                              2.00%               2.0408%             

<FN>
* The breakpoint sales charges are also applied on a Unit basis
utilizing a breakpoint equivalent in the above table of $10 per Unit and
will be applied on whichever basis is more favorable to the investor.
The breakpoints will be adjusted to take into consideration purchase
orders stated in dollars which cannot be completely fulfilled due to the
requirement that only whole Units be issued.
</FN>
</TABLE>

Any such reduced sales charge shall be the responsibility of the selling
Underwriter, broker/dealer, bank or other selling agent. The reduced
sales charge structure will apply on all purchases of Units in the Trust
by the same person on any one day from the Underwriter or any one
broker/dealer, bank or other selling agent. Additionally, Units
purchased in the name of the spouse of a purchaser or in the name of a
child of such purchaser under 21 years of age will be deemed, for the
purposes of calculating the applicable sales charge, to be additional
purchases by the purchaser. The reduced sales charges will also be
applicable to a trustee or other fiduciary purchasing securities for a
single trust estate or single fiduciary account. The purchaser must
inform the Underwriter, broker/dealer, bank or other selling agent of
any such combined purchase prior to the sale, in order to obtain the
indicated discount. In addition, with respect to employees, officers and
directors (including their immediate family members, defined as spouses,
children, grandchildren, parents, grandparents, siblings, mothers-in-
law, fathers-in-law, sons-in-law and daughters-in-law, and trustees,
custodians or fiduciaries for the benefit of such persons) of the
Sponsor, Underwriter, broker/dealers, banks or other selling agents and
their subsidiaries and vendors providing services to the Sponsor, Units
may be purchased at the Public Offering Price less the concession the
Sponsor typically allows to dealers and other selling agents.

Units may be purchased in the primary or secondary market at the Public
Offering Price less the concession the Sponsor typically allows to
dealers and other selling agents (see "Public Offering-How are Units
Distributed?") by investors who purchase Units through registered
investment advisors, certified financial planners or registered
broker/dealers who in each case either charge periodic fees for
financial planning, investment advisory or asset management services, or
provide such services in connection with the establishment of an
investment account for which a comprehensive "wrap fee" charge is imposed.

Had the Units of the Trust been available for sale on the business day
prior to the Initial Date of Deposit, the Public Offering Price would
have been as indicated in "Summary of Essential Information." The Public
Offering Price of Units on the date of the prospectus or during the
initial offering period may vary from the amount stated under "Summary
of Essential Information" in accordance with fluctuations in the prices
of the underlying Equity Securities. During the initial offering period,
the aggregate value of the Units of the Trust shall be determined on the
basis of the aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities therein
plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of the
Trust. The aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities will be
determined in the following manner: if the Equity Securities are listed,
this evaluation is generally based on the closing sale prices on that
exchange (unless it is determined that these prices are inappropriate as
a basis for valuation) or, if there is no closing sale price on that
exchange, at the closing ask prices. If the Equity Securities are not so
listed or, if so listed and the principal market therefor is other than
on the exchange, the evaluation shall generally be based on the current
ask prices on the over-the-counter market (unless it is determined that
these prices are inappropriate as a basis for evaluation). If current
ask prices are unavailable, the evaluation is generally determined (a)
on the basis of current ask prices for comparable securities, (b) by
appraising the value of the Equity Securities on the ask side of the
market or (c) by any combination of the above.

The Evaluator on each business day will appraise or cause to be
appraised the value of the underlying Equity Securities in the Trust as
of the Evaluation Time and will adjust the Public Offering Price of the
Units commensurate with such valuation. Such Public Offering Price will
be effective for all orders received prior to the Evaluation Time on

Page 22

each such day. Orders received by the Trustee or Sponsor for purchases,
sales or redemptions after that time, or on a day which is not a
business day, will be held until the next determination of price. The
term "business day," as used herein and under "Rights of Unit Holders-
How May Units be Redeemed?", shall exclude Saturdays, Sundays and the
following holidays as observed by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.: New
Year's Day, Presidents' Day, Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence
Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.

After the completion of the initial offering period, the secondary
market Public Offering Price will be equal to the aggregate underlying
value of the Equity Securities therein, plus or minus cash, if any, in
the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust plus the applicable sales
charge. The aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities for
secondary market sales is calculated in the same manner as described
above for sales made during the initial offering period with the
exception that bid prices are used instead of ask prices.

Although payment is normally made three business days following the
order for purchase (the "date of settlement"), payment may be made prior
thereto. A person will become owner of Units on the date of settlement
provided payment has been received. Cash, if any, made available to the
Sponsor prior to the date of settlement for the purchase of Units may be
used in the Sponsor's business and may be deemed to be a benefit to the
Sponsor, subject to the limitations of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934. Delivery of Certificates representing Units so ordered will be
made three business days following such order or shortly thereafter. See
"Rights of Unit Holders-How May Units be Redeemed?" for information
regarding the ability to redeem Units ordered for purchase.

How are Units Distributed?

During the initial offering period (i) for Units issued on the Initial
Date of Deposit and (ii) for additional Units issued after such date as
additional Equity Securities are deposited by the Sponsor, Units will be
distributed to the public at the then current Public Offering Price. The
initial offering period may be up to approximately 360 days. Units
reacquired by the Sponsor during the initial offering period may be
resold at the then current Public Offering Price.

   
Upon completion of the initial offering, Units repurchased in the
secondary market (see "Public Offering-Will There be a Secondary
Market?") may be offered by this prospectus at the secondary market
Public Offering Price determined in the manner described above. 
    

   
It is the intention of the Sponsor to qualify Units of the Trust for
sale in a number of states. Sales initially will be made to dealers and
other selling agents at prices which represent a concession or agency
commission of 3.5% of the Public Offering Price, and, for secondary
market sales, 3.5% of the Public Offering Price (or 65% of the then
current maximum sales charge on October 29, 1999 and thereafter).
    

The Sponsor reserves the right to change the amount of the concession or
agency commission from time to time. Certain commercial banks may be
making Units of the Trust available to their customers on an agency
basis. A portion of the sales charge paid by these customers is retained
by or remitted to the banks in the amounts indicated above. Under the
Glass-Steagall Act, banks are prohibited from underwriting Trust Units;
however, the Glass-Steagall Act does permit certain agency transactions
and the banking regulators have not indicated that these particular
agency transactions are not permitted under such Act. In Texas and in
certain other states, any banks making Units available must be
registered as broker/dealers under state law.

What are the Sponsor's and Underwriter's Profits?

The Underwriter of the Trust will receive a gross sales commission equal
to 5.0% of the Public Offering Price of the Units (equivalent to 5.076%
of the net amount invested, exclusive of the deferred sales charge),
less any reduced sales charge as described under "Public Offering-How is
the Public Offering Price Determined?" See "Underwriting" for
information regarding the receipt of the excess gross sales commissions
by the Sponsor from the Underwriter and additional concessions available
to the Underwriter, dealers and other selling agents. In addition, the
Sponsor may be considered to have realized a profit or to have sustained
a loss, as the case may be, in the amount of any difference between the
cost of the Equity Securities to the Trust (which is based on the
Evaluator's determination of the aggregate offering price of the

Page 23

underlying Equity Securities of the Trust on the Initial Date of Deposit
as well as subsequent deposits) and the cost of such Equity Securities
to the Sponsor. See "Underwriting" and Note (2) of "Schedule of
Investments." During the initial offering period, the Underwriter also
may realize profits or sustain losses as a result of fluctuations after
the Initial Date of Deposit in the Public Offering Price received by the
Underwriter upon the sale of Units.

In maintaining a market for the Units, the Sponsor or Underwriter will
also realize profits or sustain losses in the amount of any difference
between the price at which Units are purchased and the price at which
Units are resold (which price includes a sales charge of 5.0% subject to
reduction beginning October 29, 1999) or redeemed. The secondary market
public offering price of Units may be greater or less than the cost of
such Units to the Sponsor or Underwriter.

Will There be a Secondary Market?

After the initial offering period, although not obligated to do so, the
Sponsor intends to, and the Underwriter may, maintain a market for the
Units and continuously offer to purchase Units at prices, subject to
change at any time, based upon the aggregate underlying value of the
Equity Securities in the Trust plus or minus cash, if any, in the Income
and Capital Accounts of the Trust. All expenses incurred in maintaining
a secondary market, other than the fees of the Evaluator and the costs
of the Trustee in transferring and recording the ownership of Units,
will be borne by the Sponsor. If the supply of Units exceeds demand, or
for some other business reason, the Sponsor or Underwriter may
discontinue purchases of Units at such prices. IF A UNIT HOLDER WISHES
TO DISPOSE OF HIS OR HER UNITS, HE OR SHE SHOULD INQUIRE OF THE SPONSOR
OR UNDERWRITER AS TO CURRENT MARKET PRICES PRIOR TO MAKING A TENDER FOR
REDEMPTION TO THE TRUSTEE. Units subject to a deferred sales charge
which are sold or tendered for redemption prior to such time as the
entire deferred sales charge on such Units has been collected will be
assessed the amount of the remaining deferred sales charge at the time
of sale or redemption.

                         RIGHTS OF UNIT HOLDERS

How is Evidence of Ownership Issued and Transferred?

The Trustee is authorized to treat as the record owner of Units that
person who is registered as such owner on the books of the Trustee.
Ownership of Units may be evidenced by registered certificates executed
by the Trustee and the Sponsor. Delivery of certificates representing
Units ordered for purchase is normally made three business days
following such order or shortly thereafter. Certificates are
transferable by presentation and surrender to the Trustee properly
endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of
transfer. Certificates to be redeemed must be properly endorsed or
accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer. A Unit
holder must sign exactly as his or her name appears on the face of the
certificate with the signature guaranteed by a participant in the
Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other
signature guaranty program in addition to, or in substitution for,
STAMP, as may be accepted by the Trustee. In certain instances, the
Trustee may require additional documents such as, but not limited to,
trust instruments, certificates of death, appointments as executor or
administrator or certificates of corporate authority.

Certificates will be issued in fully registered form, transferable only
on the books of the Trustee in denominations of one Unit or any multiple
thereof, numbered serially for purposes of identification.

Unit holders may elect to hold their Units in uncertificated form. The
Trustee will maintain an account for each such Unit holder and will
credit each such account with the number of Units purchased by that Unit
holder. Within two business days of the issuance or transfer of Units
held in uncertificated form, the Trustee will send to the registered
owner of Units a written initial transaction statement containing a
description of the Trust; the number of Units issued or transferred; the
name, address and taxpayer identification number, if any, of the new
registered owner; a notation of any liens and restrictions of the issuer
and any adverse claims to which such Units are or may be subject or a
statement that there are no such liens, restrictions or adverse claims;
and the date the transfer was registered. Uncertificated Units are
transferable through the same procedures applicable to Units evidenced
by certificates (described above), except that no certificate need be
presented to the Trustee and no certificate will be issued upon the

Page 24

transfer unless requested by the Unit holder. A Unit holder may at any
time request the Trustee to issue certificates for Units.

Although no such charge is now made or contemplated, a Unit holder may
be required to pay $2.00 to the Trustee per certificate reissued or
transferred and to pay any governmental charge that may be imposed in
connection with each such transfer or exchange. For new certificates
issued to replace destroyed, stolen or lost certificates, the Unit
holder may be required to furnish indemnity satisfactory to the Trustee
and pay such expenses as the Trustee may incur. Mutilated certificates
must be surrendered to the Trustee for replacement.

How are Income and Capital Distributed?

The Trustee will distribute any net income received with respect to any
of the Equity Securities in the Trust on or about the Income
Distribution Dates to Unit holders of record on the preceding Income
Distribution Record Date. See "Summary of Essential Information."
Persons who purchase Units will commence receiving distributions only
after such person becomes a record owner. Notification to the Trustee of
the transfer of Units is the responsibility of the purchaser, but in the
normal course of business such notice is provided by the selling
broker/dealer. The pro rata share of cash in the Capital Account of the
Trust will be computed as of the fifteenth day of each month. Proceeds
received on the sale of any Equity Securities in the Trust, to the
extent not used to meet redemptions of Units or pay expenses, will,
however, be distributed on the last day of each month to Unit holders of
record on the fifteenth day of such month if the amount available for
distribution equals at least $0.01 per Unit. The Trustee is not required
to pay interest on funds held in the Capital Account of the Trust (but
may itself earn interest thereon and therefore benefit from the use of
such funds). Notwithstanding, distributions of funds in the Capital
Account, if any, will be made on the last day of each December to Unit
holders of record as of December 15. See "What is the Federal Tax Status
of Unit Holders?"

It is anticipated that the deferred sales charge will be collected from
the Capital Account and that amounts in the Capital Account will be
sufficient to cover the cost of the deferred sales charge. However, to
the extent that amounts in the Capital Account are insufficient to
satisfy the then current deferred sales charge obligation, Equity
Securities may be sold to meet such shortfall. Distributions of amounts
necessary to pay the deferred portion of the sales charge will be made
to an account designated by the Sponsor for purposes of satisfying Unit
holders' deferred sales charge obligations.

Under regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service, the Trustee is
required to withhold a specified percentage of any distribution made by
the Trust if the Trustee has not been furnished the Unit holder's tax
identification number in the manner required by such regulations. Any
amount so withheld is transmitted to the Internal Revenue Service and
may be recovered by the Unit holder only when filing a tax return. Under
normal circumstances the Trustee obtains the Unit holder's tax
identification number from the selling broker. However, a Unit holder
should examine his or her statements from the Trustee to make sure that
the Trustee has been provided a certified tax identification number in
order to avoid this possible "back-up withholding." In the event the
Trustee has not been previously provided such number, one should be
provided as soon as possible.

Within a reasonable time after the Trust is terminated, each Unit holder
will, upon surrender of his or her Units for redemption, receive: (i)
the pro rata share of the amounts realized upon the disposition of
Equity Securities, unless he or she elects an In-Kind Distribution as
described under "Other Information-How May the Indenture be Amended or
Terminated?" and (ii) a pro rata share of any other assets of the Trust,
less expenses of the Trust. 

The Trustee will credit to the Income Account of the Trust any income or
dividends received on the Equity Securities therein. All other receipts
(e.g. return of capital, etc.) are credited to the Capital Account of
the Trust.

The Trustee may establish reserves (the "Reserve Account") within the
Trust for state and local taxes, if any, and any governmental charges
payable out of the Trust.

What Reports will Unit Holders Receive?

The Trustee shall furnish Unit holders in connection with each
distribution a statement of the amount of income, if any, and the amount

Page 25

of other receipts, if any, which are being distributed, expressed in
each case as a dollar amount per Unit. Within a reasonable period of
time after the end of each calendar year, the Trustee shall furnish to
each person who at any time during the calendar year was a Unit holder
of the Trust the following information in reasonable detail: (1) a
summary of transactions in the Trust for such year; (2) any Equity
Securities sold during the year and the Equity Securities held at the
end of such year by the Trust; (3) the redemption price per Unit based
upon a computation thereof on the 31st day of December of such year (or
the last business day prior thereto); and (4) amounts of income and
capital distributed during such year.

In order to comply with Federal and state tax reporting requirements,
Unit holders will be furnished, upon request to the Trustee, evaluations
of the Equity Securities in the Trust furnished to it by the Evaluator.

How May Units be Redeemed?

A Unit holder may redeem all or a portion of his or her Units by
tendering to the Trustee, at its unit investment trust office in the
City of New York, the certificates representing the Units to be
redeemed, or in the case of uncertificated Units, delivery of a request
for redemption, duly endorsed or accompanied by proper instruments of
transfer with signature guaranteed as explained above (or by providing
satisfactory indemnity, as in connection with lost, stolen or destroyed
certificates), and payment of applicable governmental charges, if any.
No redemption fee will be charged. On the third business day following
such tender, the Unit holder will be entitled to receive in cash an
amount for each Unit equal to the Redemption Price per Unit next
computed after receipt by the Trustee of such tender of Units. The "date
of tender" is deemed to be the date on which Units are received by the
Trustee (if such day is a day in which the New York Stock Exchange is
open for trading), except that as regards Units received after 4:00 p.m.
Eastern time (or as of any earlier closing time on a day on which the
New York Stock Exchange is scheduled in advance to close at such earlier
time), the date of tender is the next day on which the New York Stock
Exchange is open for trading and such Units will be deemed to have been
tendered to the Trustee on such day for redemption at the redemption
price computed on that day. Units so redeemed shall be cancelled. Units
tendered for redemption prior to such time as the entire deferred sales
charge on such Units has been collected will be assessed the amount of
remaining deferred sales charge at the time of redemption.

Any Unit holder tendering 2,500 Units or more of the Trust for
redemption may request by written notice submitted at the time of tender
from the Trustee, in lieu of a cash redemption, a distribution of shares
of Equity Securities in an amount and value of Equity Securities per
Unit equal to the Redemption Price Per Unit as determined as of the
evaluation next following tender. However, no In-Kind Distribution
requests submitted during the nine business days prior to the Mandatory
Termination Date will be honored. To the extent possible, In-Kind
Distributions shall be made by the Trustee through the distribution of
each of the Equity Securities in book-entry form to the account of the
Unit holder's bank or broker/dealer at the Depository Trust Company. An
In-Kind Distribution will be reduced by customary transfer and
registration charges. The tendering Unit holder will receive his or her
pro rata number of whole shares of each of the Equity Securities
comprising the portfolio and cash from the Capital Account equal to the
fractional shares to which the tendering Unit holder is entitled. The
Trustee may adjust the number of shares of any issue of Equity
Securities included in a Unit holder's In-Kind Distribution to
facilitate the distribution of whole shares, such adjustment to be made
on the basis of the value of Equity Securities on the date of tender.
See "What is the Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders?" If funds in the
Capital Account are insufficient to cover the required cash distribution
to the tendering Unit holder, the Trustee may sell Equity Securities in
the manner described above.

Under regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service, the Trustee is
required to withhold a specified percentage of the principal amount of a
Unit redemption if the Trustee has not been furnished the redeeming Unit
holder's tax identification number in the manner required by such
regulations. For further information regarding this withholding, see
"Rights of Unit Holders-How are Income and Capital Distributed?" In the
event the Trustee has not been previously provided such number, one must
be provided at the time redemption is requested.

Page 26

Any amounts paid on redemption representing income shall be withdrawn
from the Income Account of the Trust to the extent that funds are
available for such purpose, or from the Capital Account. All other
amounts paid on redemption shall be withdrawn from the Capital Account
of the Trust.

The Trustee is empowered to sell Equity Securities of the Trust in order
to make funds available for redemption. To the extent that Equity
Securities are sold, the size and diversity of the Trust will be
reduced. Such sales may be required at a time when Equity Securities
would not otherwise be sold and might result in lower prices than might
otherwise be realized.

The Redemption Price per Unit will be determined on the basis of the
aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in the Trust
(generally determined by the closing sale prices of the listed Equity
Securities and either the ask prices (during the initial offering
period) or the bid prices (subsequent to the initial offering period) of
the over-the-counter traded Equity Securities) plus or minus cash, if
any, in the Income and Capital Accounts of the Trust. The Redemption
Price per Unit is the pro rata share of each Unit determined by the
Trustee by adding: (1) the cash on hand in the Trust other than cash
deposited in the Trust to purchase Equity Securities not applied to the
purchase of such Equity Securities; (2) the aggregate value of the
Equity Securities held in the Trust, as determined by the Evaluator on
the basis of the aggregate underlying value of the Equity Securities in
the Trust next computed; and (3) dividends receivable on the Equity
Securities trading ex-dividend as of the date of computation; and
deducting therefrom: (1) amounts representing any applicable taxes or
governmental charges payable out of the Trust; (2) any amounts owing to
the Trustee for its advances; (3) an amount representing estimated
accrued expenses of the Trust, including but not limited to fees and
expenses of the Trustee (including legal and auditing fees), the
Evaluator and supervisory fees, if any; (4) cash held for distribution
to Unit holders of record of the Trust as of the business day prior to
the evaluation being made; and (5) other liabilities incurred by the
Trust; and finally dividing the results of such computation by the
number of Units of the Trust outstanding as of the date thereof. The
Redemption Price per Unit will be assessed the amount, if any, of the
remaining deferred sales charge at the time of redemption. Until the
earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of
the initial offering period, the Redemption Price per Unit will include
estimated organizational and offering costs as set forth under "Summary
of Essential Information."

The aggregate value of the Equity Securities will be determined in the
following manner: if the Equity Securities are listed, this evaluation
is generally based on the closing sale prices on that exchange (unless
it is determined that these prices are inappropriate as a basis for
valuation) or, if there is no closing sale price on that exchange, at
the closing ask prices (during the initial offering period) or at the
closing bid prices (subsequent to the initial offering period). If the
Equity Securities are not so listed or, if so listed and the principal
market therefor is other than on the exchange, the evaluation shall
generally be based on the current ask or bid prices (as appropriate) on
the over-the-counter market (unless these prices are inappropriate as a
basis for evaluation). If current ask or bid prices (as appropriate) are
unavailable, the evaluation is generally determined (a) on the basis of
current ask or bid prices (as appropriate) for comparable securities,
(b) by appraising the value of the Equity Securities on the ask or bid
side of the market (as appropriate) or (c) by any combination of the
above.

The right of redemption may be suspended and payment postponed for any
period during which the New York Stock Exchange is closed, other than
for customary weekend and holiday closings, or during which the
Securities and Exchange Commission determines that trading on the New
York Stock Exchange is restricted or any emergency exists, as a result
of which disposal or evaluation of the Securities is not reasonably
practicable, or for such other periods as the Securities and Exchange
Commission may by order permit. Under certain extreme circumstances, the
Sponsor may apply to the Securities and Exchange Commission for an order
permitting a full or partial suspension of the right of Unit holders to
redeem their Units. The Trustee is not liable to any person in any way
for any loss or damage which may result from any such suspension or
postponement.

How May Units be Purchased by the Sponsor or Underwriter?

The Trustee shall notify the Sponsor and Underwriter of any tender of
Units for redemption. If the Sponsor's or Underwriter's bid in the
secondary market at that time equals or exceeds the Redemption Price per

Page 27

Unit, it may purchase such Units by notifying the Trustee before 1:00
p.m. Eastern time on the same business day and by making payment
therefor to the Unit holder not later than the day on which the Units
would otherwise have been redeemed by the Trustee. Units held by the
Sponsor or Underwriter may be tendered to the Trustee for redemption as
any other Units. In the event the Sponsor or Underwriter does not
purchase Units, the Trustee may sell Units tendered for redemption in
the over-the-counter market, if any, as long as the amount to be
received by the Unit holder is equal to the amount he or she would have
received on redemption of the Units.

The offering price of any Units acquired by the Sponsor or Underwriter
will be in accord with the Public Offering Price described in the then
effective prospectus describing such Units. Any profit or loss resulting
from the resale or redemption of such Units will belong to the Sponsor
or Underwriter.

How May Equity Securities be Removed from the Trust?

The Portfolio of the Trust is not "managed" by the Sponsor or the
Trustee; their activities described herein are governed solely by the
provisions of the Indenture. The Indenture provides that the Sponsor may
(but need not) direct the Trustee to dispose of an Equity Security in
the event that an issuer defaults in the payment of a dividend that has
been declared, that any action or proceeding has been instituted
restraining the payment of dividends or there exists any legal question
or impediment affecting such Equity Security, that the issuer of the
Equity Security has breached a covenant which would affect the payments
of dividends, the credit standing of the issuer or otherwise impair the
sound investment character of the Equity Security, that the issuer has
defaulted on the payment on any other of its outstanding obligations, or
that the price of the Equity Security has declined to such an extent or
other such credit factors exist so that in the opinion of the Sponsor,
the retention of such Equity Securities would be detrimental to the
Trust. Except as stated under "Portfolio-What are Some Additional
Considerations for Investors?" for Failed Contract Obligations, the
acquisition by the Trust of any securities or other property other than
the Equity Securities is prohibited. Pursuant to the Indenture and with
limited exceptions, the Trustee may sell any securities or other
property acquired in exchange for Equity Securities such as those
acquired in connection with a merger or other transaction. If offered
such new or exchanged securities or property, the Trustee shall reject
the offer. However, in the event such securities or property are
nonetheless acquired by the Trust, they may be accepted for deposit in
the Trust and either sold by the Trustee or held in the Trust pursuant
to the direction of the Sponsor (who may rely on the advice of the
Portfolio Supervisor). Proceeds from the sale of Equity Securities (or
any securities or other property received by the Trust in exchange for
Equity Securities) by the Trustee are credited to the Capital Account of
the Trust for distribution to Unit holders or to meet redemptions. The
Trustee may from time to time retain and pay compensation to the Sponsor
(or an affiliate of the Sponsor) to act as agent for the Trust with
respect to selling Equity Securities from the Trust. In acting in such
capacity the Sponsor or its affiliate will be held subject to the
restrictions under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

The Trustee may also sell Equity Securities designated by the Sponsor,
or if not so directed, in its own discretion, for the purpose of
redeeming Units of the Trust tendered for redemption and the payment of
expenses.

The Sponsor, in designating Equity Securities to be sold by the Trustee,
will generally make selections in order to maintain, to the extent
practicable, the proportionate relationship among the number of shares
of individual issues of Equity Securities. To the extent this is not
practicable, the composition and diversity of the Equity Securities may
be altered. In order to obtain the best price for the Trust, it may be
necessary for the Sponsor to specify minimum amounts (generally 100
shares) in which blocks of Equity Securities are to be sold.

      INFORMATION AS TO UNDERWRITER, SPONSOR, TRUSTEE AND EVALUATOR

Who is the Underwriter?

Fifth Third/The Ohio Company is a full-service investment banking and
brokerage firm headquartered in Columbus, Ohio with over 50 branch
offices spread throughout Ohio, Florida, Indiana, Michigan and West

Page 28

Virginia. Fifth Third/The Ohio Company provides retail brokerage
services with over 200 investment executives and institutional service
with eight investment executives. A wide array of financial services are
provided including: equity research (following approximately 125
companies), Nasdaq and NYSE equity trading (making markets in over 80
stocks and providing the services of a dedicated NYSE floor broker),
corporate and public finance, taxable and municipal bond trading desks
and asset management (approximately $2.0 billion under active management.)

Founded in 1925, Fifth Third/The Ohio Company has a current capital
position of nearly $35 million, ranking near the top of regional
securities firms. Fifth Third/The Ohio Company has built and maintained
a reputation for over 70 years of providing high quality investment
banking and brokerage service to institutions, corporations,
municipalities and individuals.

Who is the Sponsor?

Nike Securities L.P., the Sponsor, specializes in the underwriting,
trading and distribution of unit investment trusts and other securities.
Nike Securities L.P., an Illinois limited partnership formed in 1991,
acts as Sponsor for successive series of The First Trust Combined
Series, the FT Series (formerly known as The First Trust Special
Situations Trust Series), The First Trust Insured Corporate Trust, The
First Trust of Insured Municipal Bonds and The First Trust GNMA. First
Trust introduced the first insured unit investment trust in 1974 and to
date more than $20 billion in First Trust unit investment trusts have
been deposited. The Sponsor's employees include a team of professionals
with many years of experience in the unit investment trust industry. The
Sponsor is a member of the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. and Securities Investor Protection Corporation and has its
principal offices at 1001 Warrenville Road, Lisle, Illinois 60532;
telephone number (630) 241-4141. As of December 31, 1997, the total
partners' capital of Nike Securities L.P. was $11,724,071 (audited).
(This paragraph relates only to the Sponsor and not to the Trust or to
any series thereof. The information is included herein only for the
purpose of informing investors as to the financial responsibility of the
Sponsor and its ability to carry out its contractual obligations. More
detailed financial information will be made available by the Sponsor
upon request.)

Who is the Trustee?

The Trustee is The Chase Manhattan Bank, with its principal executive
office located at 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and its unit
investment trust office at 4 New York Plaza, 6th floor, New York, New
York 10004-2413. Unit holders who have questions regarding the Trust may
call the Customer Service Help Line at 1-800-682-7520. The Trustee is
subject to supervision by the Superintendent of Banks of the State of
New York, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation and the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System.

The Trustee, whose duties are ministerial in nature, has not
participated in the selection of the Equity Securities. For information
relating to the responsibilities of the Trustee under the Indenture,
reference is made to the material set forth under "Rights of Unit
Holders."

The Trustee and any successor trustee may resign by executing an
instrument in writing and filing the same with the Sponsor and mailing a
copy of a notice of resignation to all Unit holders. Upon receipt of
such notice, the Sponsor is obligated to appoint a successor trustee
promptly. If the Trustee becomes incapable of acting or becomes bankrupt
or its affairs are taken over by public authorities, the Sponsor may
remove the Trustee and appoint a successor as provided in the Indenture.
If upon resignation of a trustee no successor has accepted the
appointment within 30 days after notification, the retiring trustee may
apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor. The resignation or removal of a trustee becomes effective
only when the successor trustee accepts its appointment as such or when
a court of competent jurisdiction appoints a successor trustee.

Any corporation into which a Trustee may be merged or with which it may
be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger or
consolidation to which a Trustee shall be a party, shall be the
successor Trustee. The Trustee must be a banking corporation organized
under the laws of the United States or any State and having at all times
an aggregate capital, surplus and undivided profits of not less than
$5,000,000.

Page 29


Limitations on Liabilities of Sponsor and Trustee

The Sponsor and the Trustee shall be under no liability to Unit holders
for taking any action or for refraining from taking any action in good
faith pursuant to the Indenture, or for errors in judgment, but shall be
liable only for their own willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross
negligence (ordinary negligence in the case of the Trustee) or reckless
disregard of their obligations and duties. The Trustee shall not be
liable for depreciation or loss incurred by reason of the sale by the
Trustee of any of the Equity Securities. In the event of the failure of
the Sponsor to act under the Indenture, the Trustee may act thereunder
and shall not be liable for any action taken by it in good faith under
the Indenture.

The Trustee shall not be liable for any taxes or other governmental
charges imposed upon or in respect of the Equity Securities or upon the
interest thereon or upon it as Trustee under the Indenture or upon or in
respect of the Trust which the Trustee may be required to pay under any
present or future law of the United States of America or of any other
taxing authority having jurisdiction. In addition, the Indenture
contains other customary provisions limiting the liability of the Trustee.

If the Sponsor shall fail to perform any of its duties under the
Indenture or becomes incapable of acting or becomes bankrupt or its
affairs are taken over by public authorities, then the Trustee may (a)
appoint a successor Sponsor at rates of compensation deemed by the
Trustee to be reasonable and not exceeding amounts prescribed by the
Securities and Exchange Commission, or (b) terminate the Indenture and
liquidate the Trust as provided herein, or (c) continue to act as
Trustee without terminating the Indenture.

Who is the Evaluator?

The Evaluator is First Trust Advisors L.P., an Illinois limited
partnership formed in 1991 and an affiliate of the Sponsor. The
Evaluator's address is 1001 Warrenville Road, Lisle, Illinois 60532. The
Evaluator may resign or may be removed by the Sponsor or the Trustee, in
which event the Sponsor and the Trustee are to use their best efforts to
appoint a satisfactory successor. Such resignation or removal shall
become effective upon the acceptance of appointment by the successor
Evaluator. If upon resignation of the Evaluator no successor has
accepted appointment within 30 days after notice of resignation, the
Evaluator may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor.

The Trustee, Sponsor and Unit holders may rely on any evaluation
furnished by the Evaluator and shall have no responsibility for the
accuracy thereof. Determinations by the Evaluator under the Indenture
shall be made in good faith upon the basis of the best information
available to it, provided, however, that the Evaluator shall be under no
liability to the Trustee, Sponsor or Unit holders for errors in
judgment. This provision shall not protect the Evaluator in any case of
willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence or reckless disregard
of its obligations and duties.

                            OTHER INFORMATION

How May the Indenture be Amended or Terminated?

The Sponsor and the Trustee have the power to amend the Indenture
without the consent of any of the Unit holders when such an amendment is
(1) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision of
the Indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any other
provision contained therein, or (2) to make such other provisions as
shall not adversely affect the interest of the Unit holders (as
determined in good faith by the Sponsor and the Trustee).

   
The Indenture provides that the Trust shall terminate upon the Mandatory
Termination Date indicated herein under "Summary of Essential
Information." The Trust may be liquidated at any time by consent of 100%
of the Unit holders of the Trust or by the Trustee when the value of the
Equity Securities owned by the Trust as shown by any evaluation, is less
than the lower of $2,000,000 or 20% of the total value of Equity
Securities deposited in such Trust during the initial offering period,
or in the event that Units of the Trust not yet sold aggregating more
than 60% of the Units of the Trust are tendered for redemption by
underwriters, including the Sponsor. If the Trust is liquidated because
of the redemption of unsold Units of the Trust by underwriters, the
Sponsor will refund to each purchaser of Units of the Trust the entire

Page 30

sales charge paid by such purchaser. In the event of termination,
written notice thereof will be sent by the Trustee to all Unit holders
of the Trust. Within a reasonable period after termination, the Trustee
will follow the procedures set forth under "Rights of Unit Holders-How
are Income and Capital Distributed?"
    

Commencing during the period beginning nine business days prior to and
no later than the Mandatory Termination Date, Equity Securities will
begin to be sold in connection with the termination of the Trust. The
Sponsor will determine the manner, timing and execution of the sale of
the Equity Securities. Written notice of any termination of the Trust
specifying the time or times at which Unit holders may surrender their
certificates for cancellation shall be given by the Trustee to each Unit
holder at his or her address appearing on the registration books of the
Trust maintained by the Trustee. At least 60 days prior to the Maturity
Date of the Trust, the Trustee will provide written notice thereof to
all Unit holders and will include with such notice a form to enable Unit
holders to elect a distribution of shares of Equity Securities (reduced
by customary transfer and registration charges), if such Unit holder
owns at least 2,500 Units of the Trust, rather than to receive payment
in cash for such Unit holder's pro rata share of the amounts realized
upon the disposition by the Trustee of Equity Securities. To be
effective, the election form, together with surrendered certificates and
other documentation required by the Trustee, must be returned to the
Trustee at least ten business days prior to the Mandatory Termination
Date of the Trust. Unit holders not electing a distribution of shares of
Equity Securities will receive a cash distribution from the sale of the
remaining Equity Securities within a reasonable time after the Trust is
terminated. Regardless of the distribution involved, the Trustee will
deduct from the funds of the Trust any accrued costs, expenses, advances
or indemnities provided by the Indenture, including estimated
compensation of the Trustee and costs of liquidation and any amounts
required as a reserve to provide for payment of any applicable taxes or
other governmental charges. Any sale of Equity Securities in the Trust
upon termination may result in a lower amount than might otherwise be
realized if such sale were not required at such time. In addition, to
the extent that Equity Securities are sold prior to the Mandatory
Termination Date, Unit holders will not benefit from any stock
appreciation they would have received had the Equity Securities not been
sold at such time. The Trustee will then distribute to each Unit holder
his or her pro rata share of the balance of the Income and Capital
Accounts.

Legal Opinions

The legality of the Units offered hereby and certain matters relating to
Federal tax law have been passed upon by Chapman and Cutler, 111 West
Monroe Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, as counsel for the Sponsor.
Carter, Ledyard & Milburn, will act as counsel for the Trustee and as
special New York tax counsel for the Trust.

Experts

The statement of net assets, including the schedule of investments, of
the Trust at the opening of business on the Initial Date of Deposit
appearing in this Prospectus and Registration Statement has been audited
by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their report
thereon appearing elsewhere herein and in the Registration Statement,
and is included in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of
such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.

                              UNDERWRITING

The Underwriter named below has purchased Units in the following amount:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                               Number        
Name                                            Address                                        of Units      
_______                                         __________                                     ________      
<S>                                             <C>                                            <C>           
Fifth Third/The Ohio Company                    155 East Broad Street                          
                                                Columbus, OH 43215                             15,007       
                                                                                               =======       
</TABLE>

On the Initial Date of Deposit, the Underwriter of the Trust became the
owner of the Units of the Trust and entitled to the benefits thereof, as
well as the risks inherent therein.

The Underwriter Agreement provides that a public offering of the Units
of the Trust will be made at the Public Offering Price described in the
Prospectus. Units may also be sold to or through dealers and others

Page 31

during the initial offering period and in the secondary market at prices
representing a concession or agency commission as described in "Public
Offering-How are Units Distributed?"

The Underwriter has agreed to underwrite additional Units of the Trust
as they become available. The Sponsor will receive from the Underwriter
the difference between the gross sales commission and the Underwriter
concession listed below. The Underwriter concession will be calculated
as a percentage of the Public Offering Price per Unit according to the
following schedule:

Underwriting                                          Concession
____________                                          __________
Less than $15,000,000                                 3.60%
$15,000,000 but less than $20,000,000                 3.75%
$20,000,000 but less than $25,000,000                 3.90%
$25,000,000 or more                                   4.00%

From time to time the Sponsor may implement programs under which the
Underwriter and dealers of the Trust may receive nominal awards from the
Sponsor for each of their registered representatives who have sold a
minimum number of UIT Units during a specified time period. In addition,
at various times the Sponsor may implement other programs under which
the sales force of the Underwriter or dealers may be eligible to win
other nominal awards for certain sales efforts, or under which the
Sponsor will reallow to any such Underwriter or dealer that sponsors
sales contests or recognition programs conforming to criteria
established by the Sponsor, or participates in sales programs sponsored
by Sponsor, an amount not exceeding the total applicable sales charges
on the sales generated by such person at the public offering price
during such programs. Also, the Sponsor in its discretion may from time
to time pursuant to objective criteria established by the Sponsor pay
fees to the Underwriter or qualifying dealers for certain services or
activities which are primarily intended to result in sales of Units of
the Trust. Such payments are made by the Sponsor out of its own assets,
and not out of the assets of the Trust. These programs will not change
the price Unit holders pay for their Units or the amount that the Trust
will receive from the Units sold.

The Sponsor may from time to time in its advertising and sales materials
compare the then current estimated returns on the Trust and returns over
specified periods on other similar Trusts sponsored by Nike Securities
L.P. with returns on other taxable investments such as the common stocks
comprising the Dow Jones Industrial Average, corporate or U.S.
Government bonds, bank CDs and money market accounts or money market
funds, each of which has investment characteristics that may differ from
those of the Trust. U.S. Government bonds, for example, are backed by
the full faith and credit of the U.S. Government and bank CDs and money
market accounts are insured by an agency of the federal government.
Money market accounts and money market funds provide stability of
principal, but pay interest at rates that vary with the condition of the
short-term debt market. The investment characteristics of the Trust are
described more fully elsewhere in this Prospectus. 

Information on percentage changes in the dollar value of Units, on the
basis of changes in Unit price may be included from time to time in
advertisements, sales literature, reports and other information
furnished to current or prospective Unit holders. Total return figures
are not averaged, and may not reflect deduction of the sales charge,
which would decrease the return. Average annualized return figures
reflect deduction of the maximum sales charge. No provision is made for
any income taxes payable.

Past performance may not be indicative of future results. The Trust's
portfolio is not managed. Unit price and return fluctuate with the value
of the common stocks in the Trust's portfolio, so there may be a gain or
loss when Units are sold.

Trust performance may be compared to performance on a total return basis
of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the S&P 500 Composite Price Stock
Index, or performance data from Lipper Analytical Services, Inc. and
Morningstar Publications, Inc. or from publications such as Money, The
New York Times, U.S. News and World Report, Business Week, Forbes or
Fortune. As with other performance data, performance comparisons should
not be considered representative of the Trust's relative performance for
any future period.

Page 32


                     REPORT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

The Sponsor, Nike Securities L.P., and Unit Holders
FT 283

   
We have audited the accompanying statement of net assets, including the
schedule of investments, of FT 283, comprised of Strategic
Communications & Technology Trust Series, as of the opening of business
on October 20, 1998. This statement of net assets is the responsibility
of the Trust's Sponsor. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on
this statement of net assets based on our audit.
    

   
We conducted our audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards. Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to
obtain reasonable assurance about whether the statement of net assets is
free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test
basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the statement
of net assets. Our procedures included confirmation of the letter of
credit held by the Trustee and deposited in the Trust on October 20,
1998. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used
and significant estimates made by the Sponsor, as well as evaluating the
overall presentation of the statement of net assets. We believe that our
audit of the statement of net assets provides a reasonable basis for our
opinion.
    

   
In our opinion, the statement of net assets referred to above presents
fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of FT 283,
comprised of Strategic Communications & Technology Trust Series at the
opening of business on October 20, 1998 in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles.
    

                                        ERNST & YOUNG LLP

   
Chicago, Illinois
October 20, 1998
    

Page 33


                                                  Statement of Net Assets

   
                       STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY TRUST SERIES
                                                                   FT 283
                                        At the Opening of Business on the
                                 Initial Date of Deposit-October 20, 1998
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                                                                                      <C>                
                                                        NET ASSETS                                                          
Investment in Equity Securities represented by purchase contracts (1) (2)                                $147,826           
Less accrued organizational and offering costs (3)                                                           (368)           
Less liability for deferred sales charge (4)                                                               (5,252)           
                                                                                                         ________           
Net assets                                                                                               $142,206           
                                                                                                         ========           
Units outstanding                                                                                          15,007            
                                                                                                                            
                                                  ANALYSIS OF NET ASSETS                                                    
Cost to investors (5)                                                                                    $150,078           
Less sales charge (5)                                                                                      (7,504)           
Less estimated organizational and offering costs (3)                                                         (368)           
                                                                                                         ________           
Net assets                                                                                               $142,206           
                                                                                                         ========           

<FN>
                    NOTES TO STATEMENT OF NET ASSETS

(1) Aggregate cost of the Equity Securities listed under "Schedule of
Investments" is based on their aggregate underlying value.

(2) An irrevocable letter of credit totaling $200,000 issued by The
Chase Manhattan Bank has been deposited with the Trustee as collateral,
which is sufficient to cover the monies necessary for the purchase of
the Equity Securities pursuant to contracts for the purchase of such
Equity Securities.

(3) A portion of the Public Offering Price on Units purchased prior to
the earlier of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit or the end
of the initial offering period consists of Equity Securities in an
amount sufficient to pay for all or a portion of the costs incurred in
establishing the Trust. These costs have been estimated at $.0245 per
Unit, based upon the expected number of Units of the Trust to be
created. A distribution will be made at the earlier of six months after
the Initial Date of Deposit or the end of the initial offering period to
an account maintained by the Trustee from which the organizational and
offering cost obligation of the investors to the Sponsor will be
satisfied. To the extent the number of Units of the Trust is larger or
smaller than the estimate, the actual distribution per Unit may differ
from that set forth above.

(4) Represents the amount of mandatory distributions from the Trust
($.35 per Unit), payable to the Sponsor in seven equal monthly
installments beginning on March 19, 1999, and on the twentieth day of
each month thereafter (or if such date is not a business day, on the
preceding business day) through September 20, 1999. If Units are
redeemed prior to September 20, 1999, the remaining amount of the
deferred sales charge applicable to such Units will be payable at the
time of redemption.

(5) The aggregate cost to investors includes a sales charge computed at
the rate of 5.0% of the Public Offering Price (equivalent to 5.076% of
the net amount invested, exclusive of the deferred sales charge),
assuming no reduction of sales charge as set forth under "Public
Offering-How is the Public Offering Price Determined?"
</FN>
</TABLE>

Page 34


                                                  Schedule of Investments

   
                       STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY TRUST SERIES
                                                                   FT 283
                                        At the Opening of Business on the
                                 Initial Date of Deposit-October 20, 1998
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 Market                   
                                                                                 Percentage      Value per     Cost of       
                                                                                 of Aggregate    Share of      Equity     
Number     Ticker Symbol and                                                     Offering        Equity        Securities   
of Shares  Name of Issuer of Equity Securities (1)                               Price           Securities    to Trust (2) 
_________  _______________________________________                               ____________    __________    ____________
<C>        <S>                                                                   <C>             <C>           <C>           
           TELECOMMUNICATIONS SERVICE PROVIDERS                                                                                
           __________________________________________                                                                          
 60        T          AT&T Corporation                                           2.50%           $ 61.500      $  3,690        
 73        ATI        AirTouch Communications                                    2.50%             50.625         3,696        
 24        BTY        British Telecommunications Plc (ADR)                       1.98%            122.125         2,931        
 92        CWP        Cable & Wireless Plc (ADR)                                 1.99%             32.000         2,944        
 61        CMCSA      Comcast Corporation (Class A)                              1.99%             48.188         2,939        
 79        IRIDF      Iridium World Communications Ltd. (Class A) (3)            2.00%             37.500         2,962        
102        WCOM       MCI WorldCom, Inc.                                         3.52%             50.938         5,196        
205        NXTL       Nextel Communications, Inc.                                2.50%             18.000         3,690        
338        OMPT       Omnipoint Corporation                                      2.00%              8.750         2,957        
 89        SPOT       PanAmSat Corporation                                       1.99%             33.125         2,948        
 70        SBC        SBC Communications Inc.                                    2.00%             42.313         2,962        
 25        VOD        Vodafone Group Plc (ADR)                                   2.01%            118.750         2,969        
                                                                                                                                
           EQUIPMENT MAKERS                                                                                                    
           __________________                                                                                                  
136        ADCT       ADC Telecommunications, Inc.                               2.00%             21.688         2,950        
137        ERICY      L.M. Ericsson AB (ADR)                                     1.99%             21.500         2,946        
 88        GMH        General Motors Corporation (Class H)                       2.01%             33.750         2,970        
 68        LU         Lucent Technologies Inc.                                   3.50%             76.188         5,181        
 75        MOT        Motorola, Inc.                                             2.51%             49.438         3,708        
 37        NOK/A      Nokia Oy (Class A) (ADR)                                   2.02%             80.625         2,983        
 83        NT         Northern Telecom (3)                                       2.00%             35.688         2,962        
 62        QCOM       QUALCOMM Inc.                                              1.99%             47.500         2,945        
 77        TLAB       Tellabs, Inc.                                              2.49%             47.875         3,686        
                                                                                                                                
           HARDWARE & NETWORKING PROVIDERS                                                                                     
           __________________________________                                                                                  
 62        ASND       Ascend Communications, Inc.                                2.01%             47.875         2,968        
243        CS         Cabletron Systems                                          1.50%              9.125         2,217        
 92        CSCO       Cisco Systems, Inc.                                        3.50%             56.250         5,175        
131        CPQ        Compaq Computer Corporation                                2.50%             28.250         3,701        
 90        DELL       Dell Computer Corporation                                  3.49%             57.250         5,152        
 64        EMC        EMC Corporation                                            2.51%             58.000         3,712        
                                                                                                                                
           SEMICONDUCTOR & SEMICONDUCTOR EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING                                                               
           __________________________________________________________                                                          
 96        AMAT       Applied Materials, Inc.                                    1.99%             30.625         2,940        
 61        INTC       Intel Corporation                                          3.51%             85.000         5,185        
190        LSI        LSI Logic Corporation                                      1.50%             11.688         2,221        
 67        MU         Micron Technology, Inc.                                    1.51%             33.250         2,228        
182        PRIA       PRI Automation, Inc.                                       1.50%             12.188         2,218        
233        SFA        Scientific-Atlanta, Inc.                                   2.50%             15.875         3,699        
</TABLE>

Page 35


                                        Schedule of Investments (cont'd.)

   
                       STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY TRUST SERIES
                                                                   FT 283
                                        At the Opening of Business on the
                                 Initial Date of Deposit-October 20, 1998
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 Market                   
                                                                                 Percentage      Value per     Cost of       
                                                                                 of Aggregate    Share of      Equity     
Number     Ticker Symbol and                                                     Offering        Equity        Securities   
of Shares  Name of Issuer of Equity Securities (1)                               Price           Securities    to Trust (2) 
_________  _______________________________________                               ____________    __________    ____________
<C>        <S>                                                                   <C>             <C>           <C>           
           SOFTWARE & INTERNET-RELATED                                                                                        
           ___________________________                                                                                        
 35        AOL       America Online, Inc.                                        2.50%           $105.500      $  3,693        
122        CKFR      CheckFree Holdings Corporation                              1.00%             12.125         1,479        
151        CHKPF     Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. (3)                  2.00%             19.625         2,963        
 64        CSC       Computer Sciences Corporation                               2.50%             57.625         3,688        
234        EGRP      E*TRADE Group, Inc.                                         2.50%             15.813         3,700        
 63        INTU      Intuit Inc.                                                 2.01%             47.125         2,969        
 50        MSFT      Microsoft Corporation                                       3.48%            102.938         5,147        
106        ORCL      Oracle Corporation                                          2.00%             27.875         2,955        
 81        SCH       Charles Schwab Corporation                                  2.51%             45.750         3,706        
260        SCUR      Secure Computing Corporation                                2.00%             11.375         2,958        
 25        YHOO      Yahoo! Inc.                                                 1.99%            117.500         2,937        
                                                                                 ________                      ________      
                           Total Investments                                      100%                         $147,826      
                                                                                 ========                      =========     

____________

<FN>
(1) All Equity Securities are represented by regular way contracts to
purchase such Equity Securities for the performance of which an
irrevocable letter of credit has been deposited with the Trustee. The
contracts to purchase Equity Securities were entered into by the Sponsor
on October 20, 1998.

(2) The cost of the Equity Securities to the Trust represents the
aggregate underlying value with respect to the Equity Securities
acquired (generally determined by the last sale prices of the listed
Equity Securities and the ask prices of the over-the-counter traded
Equity Securities on the business day preceding the Initial Date of
Deposit). The valuation of the Equity Securities has been determined by
the Evaluator, an affiliate of the Sponsor. The aggregate underlying
value of the Equity Securities on the Initial Date of Deposit was
$147,826. Cost and loss to Sponsor relating to the Equity Securities
sold to the Trust were $151,583 and $3,757, respectively.

(3) This Equity Security represents the common stock of a foreign company
which trades directly on a United States national securities exchange.
</FN>
</TABLE>

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Page 39


CONTENTS:

Summary of Essential Information                          4 
Strategic Communications & Technology Trust Series          
FT 283:                                                     
    What is the FT Series?                                6 
    What are the Expenses and Charges?                    7 
    What is the Federal Tax Status of Unit Holders?       8 
    Are Investments in the Trust Eligible for               
        Retirement Plans?                                12 
Portfolio:                                                  
    What are the Equity Securities?                      12 
    What are the Equity Securities Selected for the         
        Strategic Communications & Technology Trust 
        Series?                                          12 
        Risk Factors                                     15 
    What are Some Additional Considerations                 
        for Investors?                                   19 
Public Offering:                                            
    How is the Public Offering Price Determined?         21 
    How are Units Distributed?                           23 
    What are the Sponsor's and Underwriter's Profits?    23 
    Will There be a Secondary Market?                    24 
Rights of Unit Holders:                                     
    How is Evidence of Ownership Issued                     
        and Transferred?                                 24 
    How are Income and Capital Distributed?              25 
    What Reports will Unit Holders Receive?              25 
    How May Units be Redeemed?                           26 
    How May Units be Purchased by the Sponsor               
        or Underwriter?                                  27 
    How May Equity Securities be Removed                    
        from the Trust?                                  28 
Information as to Underwriter, Sponsor, Trustee and         
Evaluator:                                                  
    Who is the Underwriter?                              28 
    Who is the Sponsor?                                  29 
    Who is the Trustee?                                  29 
    Limitations on Liabilities of Sponsor and Trustee    30 
    Who is the Evaluator?                                30 
Other Information:                                          
    How May the Indenture be Amended or Terminated?      30 
    Legal Opinions                                       31 
    Experts                                              31 
Underwriting                                             31 
Report of Independent Auditors                           33 
Statement of Net Assets                                  34 
Notes to Statement of Net Assets                         34 
Schedule of Investments                                  35 

                             ____________

THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL, OR A SOLICITATION
OF AN OFFER TO BUY, SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON TO WHOM
IT IS NOT LAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER IN SUCH JURISDICTION.

THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONTAIN ALL THE INFORMATION SET FORTH IN THE
REGISTRATION STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS RELATING THERETO, WHICH THE TRUST
HAS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, WASHINGTON, D.C.
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 AND THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940,
AND TO WHICH REFERENCE IS HEREBY MADE.

                              Fifth Third/
                            The Ohio Company

           STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY TRUST SERIES

                      Fifth Third/The Ohio Company
                          155 East Broad Street
                        Columbus, Ohio 43215-9967
                             1-800-255-1825

                                Trustee:

                        The Chase Manhattan Bank

                       4 New York Plaza, 6th floor
                      New York, New York 10004-2413
                             1-800-682-7520

                          24-Hour Pricing Line:
                             1-800-446-0132

   
                            October 20, 1998
    

                      PLEASE RETAIN THIS PROSPECTUS
                           FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

Page 40



                CONTENTS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT

A.   Bonding Arrangements of Depositor:

     Nike Securities L.P. is covered by a Brokers' Fidelity Bond,
     in  the  total  amount  of  $1,000,000,  the  insurer  being
     National Union Fire Insurance Company of Pittsburgh.

B.   This Registration Statement on Form S-6 comprises the
     following papers and documents:

     The facing sheet
     
     The Cross-Reference Sheet
     
     The Prospectus
     
     The signatures
     
     Exhibits
     
     Financial Data Schedule
   

                               S-1
                           SIGNATURES
     
     The  Registrant, FT 283, hereby identifies The  First  Trust
Special  Situations  Trust,  Series  4  Great  Lakes  Growth  and
Treasury  Trust,  Series  1; The First Trust  Special  Situations
Trust,  Series 18 Wisconsin Growth and Treasury Securities Trust,
Series  1;  The First Trust Special Situations Trust,  Series  69
Target  Equity  Trust Value Ten Series; The First  Trust  Special
Situations  Trust, Series 108; The First Trust Special Situations
Trust,  Series 119 Target 5 Trust, Series 2 and Target 10  Trust,
Series  8;  and The First Trust Special Situations Trust,  Series
190  Biotechnology  Growth Trust, Series 3 for  purposes  of  the
representations   required  by  Rule  487  and   represents   the
following:
     
     (1)   that the portfolio securities deposited in the  series
as  to  the  securities of which this Registration  Statement  is
being  filed  do  not differ materially in type or  quality  from
those deposited in such previous series;
     
     (2)   that,  except to the extent necessary to identify  the
specific  portfolio  securities  deposited  in,  and  to  provide
essential  financial information for, the series with respect  to
the  securities  of  which this Registration Statement  is  being
filed,  this  Registration Statement does not contain disclosures
that  differ in any material respect from those contained in  the
registration statements for such previous series as to which  the
effective date was determined by the Commission or the staff; and
     
     (3)  that it has complied with Rule 460 under the Securities
Act of 1933.
     
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of  1933,
the  Registrant,  FT  283,  has duly  caused  this  Amendment  to
Registration  Statement  to  be  signed  on  its  behalf  by  the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Village  of  Lisle
and State of Illinois on October 20, 1998.

                              FT 283

                              By   NIKE SECURITIES L.P.
                                        Depositor
                              
                              
                              
                              
                              By   Robert M. Porcellino
                                  Senior Vice President

                               S-2
     
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of  1933,
this  Amendment  to the Registration Statement  has  been  signed
below  by  the following person in the capacity and on  the  date
indicated:

       NAME                TITLE*                 DATE

Robert D. Van Kampen Director of         )
                     Nike Securities     )
                     Corporation, the    )   October 20, 1998
                     General Partner of  )
                     Nike Securities L.P.                )
                                         )
                                         )
David J. Allen       Director of         )  Robert M. Porcellino
                     Nike Securities     )   Attorney-in-Fact**
                     Corporation, the    )
                     General Partner of  )
                     Nike Securities L.P.



       *     The title of the person named herein represents  his
       capacity  in  and  relationship to Nike  Securities  L.P.,
       Depositor.

       **    An  executed copy of the related power  of  attorney
       was  filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission  in
       connection  with the Amendment No. 1 to Form  S-6  of  The
       First  Trust  Combined Series 258 (File No. 33-63483)  and
       the same is hereby incorporated herein by this reference.

                               S-3
                 CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS
     
     We  consent  to the reference to our firm under the  caption
"Experts" and to the use of our report dated October 20, 1998  in
Amendment  No. 2 to the Registration Statement (Form  S-6)  (File
No. 333-63553) and related Prospectus of FT 283.



                                               ERNST & YOUNG LLP


Chicago, Illinois
October 20, 1998
                                
                                
                       CONSENTS OF COUNSEL
     
     The  consents  of counsel to the use of their names  in  the
Prospectus  included  in  this  Registration  Statement  will  be
contained  in their respective opinions to be filed  as  Exhibits
3.1, 3.2, 3.3 and 3.4 of the Registration Statement.
                                
                                
              CONSENT OF FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.
     
     The  consent of First Trust Advisors L.P. to the use of  its
name  in  the  Prospectus included in the Registration  Statement
will be filed as Exhibit 4.1 to the Registration Statement.
     
                         
                               S-4
                          EXHIBIT INDEX

1.1      Form  of Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust for  The
         First  Trust  Special Situations Trust,  Series  22  and
         certain  subsequent Series, effective November 20,  1991
         among  Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor, United States
         Trust   Company  of  New  York  as  Trustee,  Securities
         Evaluation Service, Inc., as Evaluator, and First  Trust
         Advisors  L.P. as Portfolio Supervisor (incorporated  by
         reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File  No.  33-
         43693]  filed  on  behalf  of The  First  Trust  Special
         Situations Trust, Series 22).

1.1.1    Form  of  Trust  Agreement for  Series  283  among  Nike
         Securities L.P., as Depositor, The Chase Manhattan Bank,
         as Trustee, First Trust Advisors L.P., as Evaluator, and
         First Trust Advisors L.P., as Portfolio Supervisor.

1.2      Copy  of  Certificate  of Limited  Partnership  of  Nike
         Securities L.P. (incorporated by reference to  Amendment
         No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on behalf of
         The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 18).

1.3      Copy   of   Amended  and  Restated  Limited  Partnership
         Agreement  of  Nike  Securities  L.P.  (incorporated  by
         reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File  No.  33-
         42683]  filed  on  behalf  of The  First  Trust  Special
         Situations Trust, Series 18).

1.4      Copy  of  Articles of Incorporation of  Nike  Securities
         Corporation,  the  general partner  of  Nike  Securities
         L.P.,  Depositor (incorporated by reference to Amendment
         No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on behalf of
         The First Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 18).

1.5      Copy  of  By-Laws  of Nike Securities  Corporation,  the
         general  partner  of  Nike  Securities  L.P.,  Depositor
         (incorporated by reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-
         6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on behalf of The First Trust
         Special Situations Trust, Series 18).

1.6      Underwriter  Agreement  (incorporated  by  reference  to
         Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42755] filed on
         behalf  of  The  First Trust Special  Situations  Trust,
         Series 19).

2.1      Copy  of  Certificate of Ownership (included in  Exhibit
         1.1 filed herewith on page 2 and incorporated herein  by
         reference).

                               S-5

3.1      Opinion  of  counsel as to legality of securities  being
         registered.

3.2      Opinion  of counsel as to Federal income tax  status  of
         securities being registered.

3.3      Opinion  of counsel as to New York income tax status  of
         securities being registered.

3.4      Opinion  of  counsel  as  to  advancement  of  funds  by
         Trustee.

4.1      Consent of First Trust Advisors L.P.

6.1      List  of  Directors and Officers of Depositor and  other
         related   information  (incorporated  by  reference   to
         Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File No. 33-42683] filed on
         behalf  of  The  First Trust Special  Situations  Trust,
         Series 18).

7.1      Power  of  Attorney executed by the Director  listed  on
         page S-3 of this Registration Statement (incorporated by
         reference to Amendment No. 1 to Form S-6 [File  No.  33-
         63483]  filed  on  behalf of The  First  Trust  Combined
         Series 258).

                      
                                
                               S-6
                                




                                
                             FT 283
                                
                         TRUST AGREEMENT
                                
                    Dated:  October 20, 1998

The Trust Agreement among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor, The
Chase  Manhattan Bank, as Trustee and First Trust Advisors  L.P.,
as   Evaluator  and  Portfolio  Supervisor,  sets  forth  certain
provisions in full and incorporates other provisions by reference
to  the document entitled "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust
for  The  First  Trust Special Situations Trust,  Series  22  and
certain  subsequent Series, Effective November 20, 1991"  (herein
called  the "Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust"),  and  such
provisions as are incorporated by reference constitute  a  single
instrument.   All references herein to Articles and Sections  are
to  Articles and Sections of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust.
                                
                                
                        WITNESSETH THAT:
     
     In   consideration  of  the  premises  and  of  the   mutual
agreements  herein  contained, the Depositor,  the  Trustee,  the
Evaluator and the Portfolio Supervisor agree as follows:
                                
                                
                             PART I
                                
                                
             STANDARD TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
     
     Subject  to  the provisions of Part II and Part III  hereof,
all the provisions contained in the Standard Terms and Conditions
of  Trust  are herein incorporated by reference in their entirety
and  shall be deemed to be a part of this instrument as fully and
to  the same extent as though said provisions had been set  forth
in full in this instrument.
                                
                                
                             PART II
                                
                                
              SPECIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF TRUST
                                
                                
     FOR STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY TRUST SERIES
     
     The following special terms and conditions are hereby agreed
to:
     
     A.     The  Securities  initially  deposited  in  the  Trust
pursuant to Section 2.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions  of
Trust are set forth in the Schedules hereto.
     
     B.    (1) The aggregate number of Units outstanding for  the
Trust  on  the Initial Date of Deposit and the initial fractional
undivided  interest in and ownership of the Trust represented  by
each  Unit thereof are set forth in the Prospectus in the section
"Summary of Essential Information."
     
     Documents  representing this number of Units for  the  Trust
are  being delivered by the Trustee to the Depositor pursuant  to
Section 2.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust.
     
        C. The Percentage Ratio on the Initial Date of Deposit is
as set forth in the Prospectus under "Schedule of Investments."
     
     D.   The Record Date shall be as set forth in the prospectus
for  the  sale  of Units dated the date hereof (the "Prospectus")
under "Summary of Essential Information."
     
     E.    The  Distribution Date shall be as set  forth  in  the
Prospectus under "Summary of Essential Information."
     
     F.    The Mandatory Termination Date for the Trust shall  be
as  set  forth  in  the  Prospectus under "Summary  of  Essential
Information."
     
     G.     The  Evaluator's  compensation  as  referred  to   in
Section 4.03 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust  shall
be an annual fee as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of
Essential Information," calculated based on the largest number of
Units  outstanding  during each period  in  respect  of  which  a
payment  is  made  pursuant  to  Section  3.05,  payable   on   a
Distribution  Date.   Such  fee may exceed  the  actual  cost  of
providing such evaluation services for the Trust, but at no  time
will  the  total amount received for evaluation services rendered
to  unit investment trusts of which Nike Securities L.P.  is  the
sponsor  in  any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost  to  the
Evaluator of supplying such services in such year.
     
     H.     The   Trustee's   Compensation   Rate   pursuant   to
Section 6.04 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust  shall
be an annual fee as set forth in the Prospectus under "Summary of
Essential Information," calculated based on the largest number of
Units  outstanding  during the calendar year  except  during  the
initial  offering period as determined in Section  4.01  of  this
Indenture,  in  which  case the fee is calculated  based  on  the
largest  number of units outstanding during the period for  which
the compensation is paid (such annual fee to be pro rated for any
calendar year in which the Trustee provides services during  less
than  the  whole of such year).  However, in no event, except  as
may otherwise be provided in the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust,  shall  the Trustee receive compensation in any  one  year
from any Trust of less than $2,000 for such annual compensation.
     
     I.    The  Initial Date of Deposit for the Trust is  October
20, 1998.
     
     J.    The minimum amount of Equity Securities to be sold  by
the  Trustee  pursuant to Section 5.02 of the Indenture  for  the
redemption of Units shall be 100 shares.
                                
                                
                            PART III
     
     A.     Notwithstanding  anything  to  the  contrary  in  the
Standard  Terms and Conditions of Trust, references to subsequent
Series  established after the date of effectiveness of the  First
Trust Special Situations Trust, Series 24 shall include FT 283.
     
     B.    The  term  "Principal Account" as  set  forth  in  the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be replaced with the
term "Capital Account."
     
     C.   Section 1.01(2) shall be amended to read as follows:
     
           "(2) "Trustee" shall mean The Chase Manhattan Bank, or
any successor trustee appointed as hereinafter provided."
     
     All references to United States Trust Company of New York in
the  Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust shall be  amended  to
refer to The Chase Manhattan Bank.
     
     D.   Section 1.01(3) shall be amended to read as follows:
          
          "(3)  "Evaluator" shall mean First Trust Advisors  L.P.
     and  its  successors in interest, or any successor evaluator
     appointed as hereinafter provided."
     
     E.   Section 1.01(4) shall be amended to read as follows:
          
          "(4)  "Portfolio  Supervisor" shall  mean  First  Trust
     Advisors  L.P.  and  its  successors  in  interest,  or  any
     successor  portfolio  supervisor  appointed  as  hereinafter
     provided."
     
     F.   Section 1.01(29) shall be added to read as follows:
          
          "(29)  The term "Distribution Agent" shall refer to the
     Trustee  acting  in  its  capacity  as  distribution   agent
     pursuant to Section 5.02 herein."
     
     G.    Paragraph (b) of Section 2.01 shall be restated in its
entirety as follows:
     
          (b)(1)From time to time following the Initial  Date  of
     Deposit,  the  Depositor  is  hereby  authorized,   in   its
     discretion,  to  assign,  convey to  and  deposit  with  the
     Trustee (i) additional Securities, duly endorsed in blank or
     accompanied  by all necessary instruments of assignment  and
     transfer  in proper form, (ii) Contract Obligations relating
     to  such  additional Securities, accompanied by cash  and/or
     Letter(s)  of Credit as specified in paragraph (c)  of  this
     Section  2.01, and/or (iii) cash (or a Letter of  Credit  in
     lieu  of  cash)  with  instructions to  purchase  additional
     Securities,  in an amount equal to the portion of  the  Unit
     Value  of the Units created by such deposit attributable  to
     the   Securities   to   be  purchased   pursuant   to   such
     instructions.    Except  as  provided   in   the   following
     subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) the Depositor, in each  case,
     shall  ensure  that  each deposit of  additional  Securities
     pursuant  to  this  Section shall  maintain,  as  nearly  as
     practicable,  the Percentage Ratio.  Each  such  deposit  of
     additional Securities shall be made pursuant to a Notice  of
     Deposit  of Additional Securities delivered by the Depositor
     to   the   Trustee.   Instructions  to  purchase  additional
     Securities shall be in writing, and shall specify  the  name
     of  the  Security,  CUSIP number, if any, aggregate  amount,
     price  or  price  range  and date  to  be  purchased.   When
     requested by the Trustee, the Depositor shall act as  broker
     to  execute  purchases in accordance with such instructions;
     the Depositor shall be entitled to compensation therefor  in
     accordance with applicable law and regulations.  The Trustee
     shall  have  no  liability  for  any  loss  or  depreciation
     resulting from any purchase made pursuant to the Depositor's
     instructions or made by the Depositor as broker.
          
          (2)   Additional  Securities (or  Contract  Obligations
     therefor)  may, at the Depositor's discretion, be  deposited
     or purchased in round lots.  If the amount of the deposit is
     insufficient  to acquire round lots of each Security  to  be
     acquired,  the additional Securities shall be  deposited  or
     purchased  in  the order of the Security in the  Trust  most
     under-represented  immediately  before  the   deposit   with
     respect to the Percentage Ratio.
          
          (3)   If  at  the  time  of  a  deposit  of  additional
     Securities, Securities of an issue deposited on the  Initial
     Date  of  Deposit (or of an issue of Replacement  Securities
     acquired  to replace an issue deposited on the Initial  Date
     of   Deposit)  are  unavailable,  cannot  be  purchased   at
     reasonable  prices  or  their  purchase  is  prohibited   or
     restricted  by  applicable law, regulation or policies,  the
     Depositor  may  (i)  deposit, or  instruct  the  Trustee  to
     purchase,  in  lieu thereof, another issue of Securities  or
     Replacement Securities or (ii) deposit cash or a  letter  of
     credit  in an amount equal to the valuation of the issue  of
     Securities   whose   acquisition  is   not   feasible   with
     instructions to acquire such Securities of such  issue  when
     they become available.
          
          (4)    Any  contrary  authorization  in  the  preceding
     subparagraphs (1) through (3) notwithstanding,  deposits  of
     additional   Securities  made  after   the   90-day   period
     immediately  following the Initial Date of  Deposit  (except
     for deposits made to replace Failed Contract Obligations  if
     such  deposits  occur within 20 days  from  the  date  of  a
     failure  occurring within such initial 90-day period)  shall
     maintain  exactly the Percentage Ratio existing  immediately
     prior to such deposit.
          
          (5)   In connection with and at the time of any deposit
     of  additional Securities pursuant to this Section  2.01(b),
     the  Depositor  shall  exactly replicate  Cash  (as  defined
     below) received or receivable by the Trust as of the date of
     such deposit.  For purposes of this paragraph, "Cash" means,
     as  to  the  Capital Account, cash or other property  (other
     than   Securities)  on  hand  in  the  Capital  Account   or
     receivable and to be credited to the Capital Account  as  of
     the   date  of  the  deposit  (other  than  amounts  to   be
     distributed  solely to persons other than holders  of  Units
     created by the deposit) and, as to the Income Account,  cash
     or  other property (other than Securities) received  by  the
     Trust  as  of the date of the deposit or receivable  by  the
     Trust  in  respect  of a record date  for  a  payment  on  a
     Security  which has occurred or will occur before the  Trust
     will  be the holder of record of a Security, reduced by  the
     amount  of any cash or other property received or receivable
     on  any Security allocable (in accordance with the Trustee's
     calculations  of  distributions  from  the  Income   Account
     pursuant  to Section 3.05) to a distribution made or  to  be
     made  in  respect of a Record Date occurring  prior  to  the
     deposit.   Such replication will be made on the basis  of  a
     fraction,  the  numerator of which is the  number  of  Units
     created by the deposit and the denominator of which  is  the
     number  of Units which are outstanding immediately prior  to
     the deposit.
     
     H.    The following shall be added immediately following the
first sentence of paragraph (c) of Section 2.01:
     
     "The  Trustee may allow the Depositor to substitute for  any
Letter(s) of Credit deposited with the Trustee in connection with
the  deposits  described in Section 2.01(a) and (b)  cash  in  an
amount  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  obligations  to  which  the
Letter(s) of Credit relates.  Any substituted Letter(s) of Credit
shall be released by the Trustee."
     
     I.   Section 2.03(a) of the Standard Terms and Conditions of
Trust shall be amended by adding the following sentence after the
first sentence of such section:
          
          "The  number of Units may be increased through a  split
     of  the  Units or decreased through a reverse split thereof,
     as  directed in writing by the Depositor, at any  time  when
     the  Depositor is the only beneficial holder of Units, which
     revised number of Units shall be recorded by the Trustee  on
     its  books.   The Trustee shall be entitled to rely  on  the
     Depositor's direction as certification that no person  other
     than  the  Depositor has a beneficial interest in the  Units
     and  the  Trustee shall have no liability to any person  for
     action taken pursuant to such direction."
     
     J.    Section  3.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions  of
Trust shall be replaced in its entirety with the following:
          
          "Section 3.01.  Initial Cost.  Subject to reimbursement
     as  hereinafter provided, the cost of organizing  the  Trust
     and  the  sale  of  the Trust Units shall be  borne  by  the
     Depositor, provided, however, that the liability on the part
     of  the  Depositor under this section shall not include  any
     fees  or  other  expenses incurred in  connection  with  the
     administration  of  the  Trust  subsequent  to  the  deposit
     referred  to in Section 2.01.  At the earlier of six  months
     after  the Initial Date of Deposit or the conclusion of  the
     primary  offering period (as certified by the  Depositor  to
     the Trustee), the Trustee shall withdraw from the Account or
     Accounts  specified in the Prospectus or, if no  Account  is
     therein specified, from the Capital Account, and pay to  the
     Depositor   the   Depositor's   reimbursable   expenses   of
     organizing  the  Trust and sale of the  Trust  Units  in  an
     amount  certified to the Trustee by the Depositor.   If  the
     cash  balance of the Capital Account is insufficient to make
     such  withdrawal,  the Trustee shall,  as  directed  by  the
     Depositor,  sell Securities identified by the Depositor,  or
     distribute  to the Depositor Securities having a  value,  as
     determined   under  Section  4.01  as   of   the   date   of
     distribution,   sufficient  for  such  reimbursement.    The
     reimbursement provided for in this section shall be for  the
     account of the Unit holders of record at the earlier of  six
     months  after the Initial Date of Deposit or the  conclusion
     of  the primary offering period.  Any assets deposited  with
     the  Trustee  in respect of the expenses reimbursable  under
     this  Section 3.01 shall be held and administered as  assets
     of  the  Trust  for all purposes hereunder.   The  Depositor
     shall  deliver  to  the Trustee any cash identified  in  the
     Statement  of  Net  Assets  of the  Trust  included  in  the
     Prospectus  not  later than the expiration of  the  Delivery
     Period  and the Depositors obligation to make such delivery
     shall  be secured by the letter of credit deposited pursuant
     to   Section  2.01.   Any  cash  which  the  Depositor   has
     identified  as  to  be  used for reimbursement  of  expenses
     pursuant  to this Section 3.01 shall be held by the Trustee,
     without  interest,  and  reserved  for  such  purpose   and,
     accordingly,  prior to the earlier of six months  after  the
     Initial  Date  of Deposit or the conclusion of  the  primary
     offering  period,  shall not be subject to distribution  or,
     unless the Depositor otherwise directs, used for payment  of
     redemptions  in  excess  of  the  per  Unit  amount  payable
     pursuant  to  the next sentence.  If a Unit  holder  redeems
     Units  prior to the earlier of six months after the  Initial
     Date  of  Deposit or the conclusion of the primary  offering
     period,  the  Trustee  shall pay  to  the  Unit  holder,  in
     addition  to  the  Redemption Value of the  tendered  Units,
     unless otherwise directed by the Depositor, an amount  equal
     to  the estimated per Unit cost of organizing the Trust  and
     the sale of Trust Units set forth in the Prospectus, or such
     revision  thereof most recently communicated to the  Trustee
     by the Depositor pursuant to Section 5.01, multiplied by the
     number  of Units tendered for redemption; to the extent  the
     cash  on hand in the Trust is insufficient for such payment,
     the  Trustee  shall  have the power to  sell  Securities  in
     accordance with Section 5.02.  The Trustee, upon receipt  of
     notification  and  certification from the Depositor  of  the
     amount of any reimbursable expenses relating to the sale  of
     Trust  Units  incurred by the Depositor  subsequent  to  the
     earlier  of six months after the Initial Date of Deposit  or
     the   conclusion  of  the  primary  offering  period,  shall
     withdraw  from the Capital Account as set forth  above,  and
     pay  to  the  Depositor such amount.  As  used  herein,  the
     Depositor's  reimbursable expenses of organizing  the  Trust
     and  sale of the Trust Units shall include the cost  of  the
     initial  preparation  and typesetting  of  the  registration
     statement,      prospectuses     (including      preliminary
     prospectuses),  the indenture, and other documents  relating
     to  the Trust, SEC and state blue sky registration fees, the
     cost of the initial valuation of the portfolio and audit  of
     the Trust, the initial fees and expenses of the Trustee, and
     legal and other out-of-pocket expenses related thereto,  but
     not  including  the  expenses incurred in  the  printing  of
     preliminary prospectuses and prospectuses, expenses incurred
     in  the  preparation  and printing of  brochures  and  other
     advertising materials and any other selling expenses.

     K.   The second paragraph of Section 3.02 of the Standard
Terms and Conditions is hereby deleted and replaced with the
following sentence:
          
          "Any  non-cash distributions (other than a  non-taxable
     distribution  of the shares of the distributing  corporation
     which  shall  be retained by a Trust) received  by  a  Trust
     shall be dealt with in the manner described at Section 3.11,
     herein,  and shall be retained or disposed of by such  Trust
     according  to  those  provisions.   The  proceeds   of   any
     disposition  shall be credited to the Income  Account  of  a
     Trust.   Neither  the  Trustee nor the  Depositor  shall  be
     liable  or responsible in any way for depreciation  or  loss
     incurred by reason of any such sale."

     L.   Section 3.05.II(a) of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
          
          "II.  (a) On each Distribution Date, the Trustee  shall
     distribute  to each Unit holder of record at  the  close  of
     business  on  the  Record  Date immediately  preceding  such
     Distribution  Date  an amount per Unit equal  to  such  Unit
     holder's  Income Distribution (as defined below), plus  such
     Unit  holder's pro rata share of the balance of the  Capital
     Account  (except for monies on deposit therein  required  to
     purchase  Contract Obligations) computed as of the close  of
     business on such Record Date after deduction of any  amounts
     provided  in  Subsection  I,  provided,  however,  that  the
     Trustee  shall  not be required to make a distribution  from
     the   Capital  Account  unless  the  amount  available   for
     distribution shall equal $1.00 per 100 Units.
          
          Each  Trust  shall  provide the following  distribution
     elections:  (1) distributions to be made by check mailed  to
     the post office address of the Unit holder as it appears  on
     the  registration books of the Trustee, or (2)  if  provided
     for in the Prospectus, the following reinvestment option:
               
               The Trustee will, for any Unit holder who provides
          the  Trustee written instruction, properly executed and
          in  form satisfactory to the Trustee, received  by  the
          Trustee no later than its close of business 10 business
          days  prior to a Record Date (the "Reinvestment  Notice
          Date"),  reinvest such Unit holder's distribution  from
          the  Income and Capital Accounts in Units of the Trust,
          purchased  from  the  Depositor,  to  the  extent   the
          Depositor shall make Units available for such purchase,
          at  the  Depositor's offering price  as  of  the  third
          business day prior to the following Distribution  Date,
          and at such reduced sales charge as may be described in
          the prospectus for the Trusts.  If, for any reason, the
          Depositor  does  not have Units of the Trust  available
          for  purchase, the Trustee shall distribute  such  Unit
          holder's  distribution  from  the  Income  and  Capital
          Accounts  in the manner provided in clause (1)  of  the
          preceding paragraph.  The Trustee shall be entitled  to
          rely  on  a  written  instruction received  as  of  the
          Reinvestment Notice Date and shall not be  affected  by
          any  subsequent  notice to the contrary.   The  Trustee
          shall   have   no  responsibility  for  any   loss   or
          depreciation  resulting from any reinvestment  made  in
          accordance  with this paragraph, or for any failure  to
          make  such reinvestment in the event the Depositor does
          not make Units available for purchase.
          
          Any   Unit  holder  who  does  not  effectively   elect
     reinvestment in Units of their respective Trust pursuant  to
     the preceding paragraph shall receive a cash distribution in
     the  manner  provided in clause (1) of the second  preceding
     paragraph."

     M.   Section 3.05.II(b) of the Standard Terms and Conditions
of Trust is hereby amended to read in its entirety as follows:
          
          "II.  (b)  For purposes of this Section 3.05, the  Unit
     holder's  Income Distribution shall be equal  to  such  Unit
     holder's  pro rata share of the cash balance in  the  Income
     Account  computed as of the close of business on the  Record
     Date  immediately  preceding such Income Distribution  after
     deduction  of  (i)  the  fees and expenses  then  deductible
     pursuant  to Section 3.05.I. and (ii) the Trustee's estimate
     of  other expenses properly chargeable to the Income Account
     pursuant  to the Indenture which have accrued,  as  of  such
     Record  Date, or are otherwise properly attributable to  the
     period to which such Income Distribution relates."

      N.    Paragraph (c) of Subsection II of Section 3.05 of the
Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust is hereby amended to  read
as follows:
          
          "On each Distribution Date the Trustee shall distribute
     to  each  Unit holder of record at the close of business  on
     the Record Date immediately preceding such Distribution Date
     an  amount  per  Unit equal to such Unit holder's  pro  rata
     share  of  the  balance of the Capital Account  (except  for
     monies  on  deposit  therein required to  purchase  Contract
     Obligations)  computed as of the close of business  on  such
     Record  Date  after  deduction of any  amounts  provided  in
     Subsection I."
     
     O.    Section 3.05 of Article III of the Standard Terms  and
Conditions  of  Trust is hereby amended to include the  following
subsection:
          
          "Section  3.05.I.(e) deduct from the  Interest  Account
     or,  to  the extent funds are not available in such Account,
     from the Capital Account and pay to the Depositor the amount
     that it is entitled to receive pursuant to Section 3.14.

      P.    Section 3.11 of the Standard Terms and Conditions  of
Trust  is  hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced  with  the
following language:
          
          "Section 3.11. Notice to Depositor.
          
          In  the event that the Trustee shall have been notified
     at  any  time  of any action to be taken or proposed  to  be
     taken  by  at least a legally required number of holders  of
     any  Securities deposited in a Trust, the Trustee shall take
     such  action or omit from taking any action, as appropriate,
     so  as to insure that the Securities are voted as closely as
     possible  in the same manner and the same general proportion
     as are the Securities held by owners other than such Trust.
          
          In  the event that an offer by the issuer of any of the
     Securities  or any other party shall be made  to  issue  new
     securities, or to exchange securities, for Trust Securities,
     the  Trustee shall reject such offer.  However,  should  any
     issuance,    exchange    or   substitution    be    effected
     notwithstanding such rejection or without an initial  offer,
     any  securities,  cash  and/or property  received  shall  be
     deposited   hereunder  and  shall  be  promptly   sold,   if
     securities  or  property,  by the Trustee  pursuant  to  the
     Depositor's  direction,  unless the  Depositor  advises  the
     Trustee  to keep such securities or property.  The Depositor
     may  rely  on  the Portfolio Supervisor in so  advising  the
     Trustee.   The  cash  received in  such  exchange  and  cash
     proceeds  of  any  such sales shall be distributed  to  Unit
     holders  on  the  next distribution date in the  manner  set
     forth  in  Section  3.05  regarding distributions  from  the
     Capital  Account.   The  Trustee  shall  not  be  liable  or
     responsible in any way for depreciation or loss incurred  by
     reason of any such sale.
          
          Neither  the Depositor nor the Trustee shall be  liable
     to  any  person  for any action or failure  to  take  action
     pursuant to the terms of this Section 3.11.
          
          Whenever  new  securities or property is  received  and
     retained  by  a  Trust pursuant to this  Section  3.11,  the
     Trustee  shall  provide to all Unit holders  of  such  Trust
     notices  of such acquisition in the Trustee's annual  report
     unless prior notice is directed by the Depositor."
     
     Q.   The first sentence of Section 3.13. shall be amended to
read as follows:
          
          "As  compensation  for providing supervisory  portfolio
     services  under  this  Indenture, the  Portfolio  Supervisor
     shall receive, in arrears, against a statement or statements
     therefor  submitted to the Trustee monthly  or  annually  an
     aggregate  annual  fee in an amount which shall  not  exceed
     $0.0035  per Unit outstanding as of January 1 of  such  year
     except  for  a Trust during the year or years  in  which  an
     initial  offering period as determined in  Section  4.01  of
     this Indenture occurs, in which case the fee for a month  is
     based on the number of Units outstanding at the end of  such
     month (such annual fee to be pro rated for any calendar year
     in  which the Portfolio Supervisor provides services  during
     less  than  the whole of such year), but in no  event  shall
     such   compensation  when  combined  with  all  compensation
     received  from other series of the Trust for providing  such
     supervisory  services  in  any  calendar  year  exceed   the
     aggregate cost to the Portfolio Supervisor for the  cost  of
     providing such services."
     
     R.    Article  III of the Standard Terms and  Conditions  of
Trust  is  hereby  amended by inserting the following  paragraphs
which shall be entitled Section 3.14.:
          
          "Section 3.14. Bookkeeping and Administrative Expenses.
     As   compensation  for  providing  bookkeeping   and   other
     administrative services of a character described in  Section
     26(a)(2)(C)  of the Investment Company Act of  1940  to  the
     extent  such  services  are  in  addition  to,  and  do  not
     duplicate,  the  services to be provided  hereunder  by  the
     Trustee  or  the  Portfolio Supervisor, the Depositor  shall
     receive against a statement or statements therefor submitted
     to  the Trustee monthly or annually an aggregate annual  fee
     in an amount as set forth in the Prospectus times the number
     of Units outstanding as of January 1 of such year except for
     a  year  or  years  in which an initial offering  period  as
     determined  by  Section 4.01 of this  Indenture  occurs,  in
     which  case  the fee for a month is based on the  number  of
     Units outstanding at the end of such month (such annual  fee
     to be pro rated for any calendar year in which the Depositor
     provides  service during less than the whole of such  year),
     but  in no event shall such compensation when combined  with
     all  compensation received from other unit investment trusts
     for which the Depositor hereunder is acting as Depositor for
     providing  such bookkeeping and administrative  services  in
     any calendar year exceed the aggregate cost to the Depositor
     providing  services  to such unit investment  trusts.   Such
     compensation  may,  from time to time, be adjusted  provided
     that  the total adjustment upward does not, at the  time  of
     such   adjustment,  exceed  the  percentage  of  the   total
     increase,  after  the  date hereof, in consumer  prices  for
     services  as  measured  by the United States  Department  of
     Labor Consumer Price Index entitled "All Services Less  Rent
     of Shelter" or similar index, if such index should no longer
     be published.  The consent or concurrence of any Unit holder
     hereunder  shall not be required for any such adjustment  or
     increase.   Such compensation shall be paid by the  Trustee,
     upon receipt of an invoice therefor from the Depositor, upon
     which, as to the cost incurred by the Depositor of providing
     services  hereunder  the  Trustee may  rely,  and  shall  be
     charged against the Income and Capital Accounts on or before
     the  Distribution Date following the Monthly Record Date  on
     which  such  period terminates.  The Trustee shall  have  no
     liability to any Certificateholder or other person  for  any
     payment made in good faith pursuant to this Section.
          
          If  the cash balance in the Income and Capital Accounts
     shall   be  insufficient  to  provide  for  amounts  payable
     pursuant  to this Section 3.14, the Trustee shall  have  the
     power  to  sell  (i)  Securities from the  current  list  of
     Securities  designated to be sold pursuant to  Section  5.02
     hereof,  or  (ii)  if  no  such  Securities  have  been   so
     designated, such Securities as the Trustee may  see  fit  to
     sell in its own discretion, and to apply the proceeds of any
     such sale in payment of the amounts payable pursuant to this
     Section 3.14.
          
          Any  moneys payable to the Depositor pursuant  to  this
     Section  3.14 shall be secured by a prior lien on the  Trust
     Fund except that no such lien shall be prior to any lien  in
     favor  of  the Trustee under the provisions of Section  6.04
     herein.
     
     S.    Article  III of the Standard Terms and  Conditions  of
Trust  is  hereby  amended by inserting the  following  paragraph
which shall be entitled Section 3.15:
          
          "Section   3.15.   Deferred  Sales  Charge.    If   the
     prospectus  related to the Trust specifies a deferred  sales
     charge, the Trustee shall, on the dates specified in and  as
     permitted  by  such Prospectus (the "Deferred  Sales  Charge
     Payment  Dates"),  withdraw from  the  Capital  Account,  an
     amount per Unit specified in such Prospectus and credit such
     amount  to  a  special non-Trust account designated  by  the
     Depositor  out  of which the deferred sales charge  will  be
     distributed  to  or  on the order of the Depositor  on  such
     Deferred  Sales  Charge Payment Dates (the  "Deferred  Sales
     Charge Account").  If the balance in the Capital Account  is
     insufficient to make such withdrawal, the Trustee shall,  as
     directed  by  the  Depositor, advance  funds  in  an  amount
     required to fund the proposed withdrawal and be entitled  to
     reimbursement of such advance upon the deposit of additional
     monies  in  the Capital Account, and/or sell Securities  and
     credit  the  proceeds thereof to the Deferred  Sales  Charge
     Account,  provided,  however,  that  the  aggregate   amount
     advanced  by  the  Trustee at any time for  payment  of  the
     deferred  sales  charge  shall  not  exceed  $15,000.   Such
     direction  shall,  if  the Trustee is  directed  to  sell  a
     Security,  identify  the Security to  be  sold  and  include
     instructions  as  to the execution of  such  sale.   In  the
     absence  of  such  direction by the Depositor,  the  Trustee
     shall  sell Securities sufficient to pay the deferred  sales
     charge  (and  any unreimbursed advance then outstanding)  in
     full,  and shall select Securities to be sold in such manner
     as  will  maintain (to the extent practicable) the  relative
     proportion  of number of shares of each Security then  held.
     The  proceeds of such sales, less any amounts  paid  to  the
     Trustee  in reimbursement of its advances, shall be credited
     to  the  Deferred Sales Charge Account.  If  a  Unit  holder
     redeems  Units  prior to full payment of the deferred  sales
     charge,  the  Trustee shall, if so provided in  the  related
     Prospectus,  on  the  Redemption  Date,  withhold  from  the
     Redemption Price payable to such Unit holder an amount equal
     to  the  unpaid  portion of the deferred  sales  charge  and
     distribute such amount to the Deferred Sales Charge Account.
     If  the Trust is terminated for reasons other than that  set
     forth  in Section 6.01(g), the Trustee shall, if so provided
     in  the related Prospectus, on the termination of the Trust,
     withhold from the proceeds payable to Unit holders an amount
     equal to the unpaid portion of the deferred sales charge and
     distribute such amount to the Deferred Sales Charge Account.
     If  the Trust is terminated pursuant to Section 6.01(g), the
     Trustee shall not withhold from the proceeds payable to Unit
     holders  any  amounts of unpaid deferred sales charges.   If
     pursuant  to  Section  5.02  hereof,  the  Depositor   shall
     purchase a Unit tendered for redemption prior to the payment
     in  full  of  the deferred sales charge due on the  tendered
     Unit,  the Depositor shall pay to the Unit holder the amount
     specified under Section 5.02 less the unpaid portion of  the
     deferred  sales  charge.  All advances made by  the  Trustee
     pursuant to this Section shall be secured by a lien  on  the
     Trust prior to the interest of the Unit holders."
     
     T.    Notwithstanding anything to the contrary  in  Sections
3.15  and 4.05 of the Standard Terms and Conditions of Trust,  so
long  as Nike Securities L.P. is acting as Depositor, the Trustee
shall have no power to remove the Portfolio Supervisor.
     
     U.    Section  5.01 of the Standard Terms and Conditions  of
Trust shall be amended as follows:

     (i)  The second sentence of the first paragraph of Section
5.01 shall be amended by deleting the phrase "and (iii)" and
adding the following "(iii) amounts representing unpaid accrued
organizational and offering costs, and (iv)" ; and

     (ii)  The following text shall immediately precede the last
sentence of the first paragraph of Section 5.01:
          
          Prior   to  the  payment  to  the  Depositor  of   its
          reimbursable organizational and offering  costs  to  be
          made  at  the  earlier of six months after the  Initial
          Date  of  Deposit  or  the conclusion  of  the  primary
          offering  period in accordance with Section  3.01,  for
          purposes of determining the Trust Fund Evaluation under
          this  Section  5.01, the Trustee shall  rely  upon  the
          amounts representing unpaid accrued organizational  and
          offering  costs in the estimated amount  per  Unit  set
          forth  in  the  Prospectus  until  such  time  as   the
          Depositor notifies the Trustee in writing of a  revised
          estimated  amount per Unit representing unpaid  accrued
          organizational  and offering costs.   Upon  receipt  of
          such   notice,  the  Trustee  shall  use  this  revised
          estimated  amount per Unit representing unpaid  accrued
          organizational  and offering costs in  determining  the
          Trust   Fund  Evaluation  but  such  revision  of   the
          estimated  expenses shall not effect calculations  made
          prior  thereto  and  no adjustment  shall  be  made  in
          respect  thereof.  Reimbursable offering costs incurred
          by  the  Depositor  subsequent to the  earlier  of  six
          months  after  the  Initial  Date  of  Deposit  or  the
          conclusion  of  the primary offering  period  shall  be
          accounted for as paid by the Trustee.

      V.    Section 5.02 of the Standard Terms and Conditions  of
Trust  is  amended  by  adding  the following  after  the  second
paragraph of such section:
          
          "Notwithstanding  anything herein to the  contrary,  in
     the  event that any tender of Units pursuant to this Section
     5.02  would result in the disposition by the Trustee of less
     than a whole Security, the Trustee shall distribute cash  in
     lieu  thereof  and sell such Securities as directed  by  the
     Sponsors as required to make such cash available.
          
          Subject   to   the  restrictions  set  forth   in   the
     Prospectus, Unit holders may redeem 2,500 Units or more of a
     Trust  and  request a distribution in kind of (i) such  Unit
     holder's pro rata portion of each of the Securities in  such
     Trust,  in  whole shares, and (ii) cash equal to  such  Unit
     holder's pro rata portion of the Income and Capital Accounts
     as  follows:  (x) a pro rata portion of the net proceeds  of
     sale  of  the Securities representing any fractional  shares
     included  in  such  Unit  holder's pro  rata  share  of  the
     Securities  and  (y)  such other cash  as  may  properly  be
     included in such Unit holder's pro rata share of the sum  of
     the  cash balances of the Income and Capital Accounts in  an
     amount equal to the Unit Value determined on the basis of  a
     Trust  Fund Evaluation made in accordance with Section  5.01
     determined by the Trustee on the date of tender less amounts
     determined  in  clauses  (i) and (ii)(x)  of  this  Section.
     Subject  to  Section  5.05  with respect  to  Rollover  Unit
     holders,    if   applicable,   to   the   extent   possible,
     distributions  of  Securities  pursuant  to   an   in   kind
     redemption of Units shall be made by the Trustee through the
     distribution of each of the Securities in book-entry form to
     the  account  of the Unit holder's bank or broker-dealer  at
     the Depository Trust Company.  Any distribution in kind will
     be reduced by customary transfer and registration charges."

     W.   Paragraph (g) of Section 6.01 of the Standard Terms and
Conditions of Trust is hereby amended by inserting the  following
after the first word thereof:
          
          "(i)  the  value of any Trust as shown by an evaluation
     by the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.01 hereof shall be less
     than  the  lower of $2,000,000 or 20% of the total value  of
     Securities  deposited  in  such  Trust  during  the  initial
     offering period, or (ii)"
     
     X.    Section  8.02 of the Standard Terms and Conditions  of
Trust shall be amended as follows:
          
          (i)   The fourth sentence of the second paragraph shall
     be deleted and replaced with the following:
          
          "The Trustee will honor duly executed requests for  in-
     kind  distributions received (accompanied  by  the  electing
     Unit  holder's  Certificate, if  issued)  by  the  close  of
     business   ten   business  days  prior  to   the   Mandatory
     Termination Date."
          
          (ii)   The first sentence of the fourth paragraph shall
     be deleted and replaced with the following:
          
          "Commencing no earlier than the business day  following
     that  date on which Unit holders must submit to the  Trustee
     notice  of  their request to receive an in-kind distribution
     of Securities at termination, the Trustee will liquidate the
     Securities  not segregated for in-kind distributions  during
     such period and in such daily amounts as the Depositor shall
     direct."
     
     IN   WITNESS  WHEREOF,  Nike  Securities  L.P.,  The   Chase
Manhattan  Bank  and First Trust Advisors L.P. have  each  caused
this  Trust Agreement to be executed and the respective corporate
seal  to  be  hereto  affixed  and attested  (if  applicable)  by
authorized  officers;  all as of the day, month  and  year  first
above written.
                                    
                                    NIKE SECURITIES L.P.,
                                       Depositor
                                    
                                    
                                    By Robert M. Porcellino
                                    Senior Vice President
                                
                                    
                                    
                                    THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                       Trustee
                                    
                                    
                                    By Rosalia A. Raviele
                                    Vice President
[SEAL]

ATTEST:

Joan Currie
Assistant Treasurer
                                    
                                    
                                    FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
                                       Evaluator
                                    
                                    
                                    By Robert M. Porcellino
                                      Senior Vice President

                                    
                                    
                                    FIRST TRUST ADVISORS L.P.,
                                       Portfolio Supervisor
                                    
                                    
                                    By Robert M. Porcellino
                                     Senior Vice President

                  SCHEDULE A TO TRUST AGREEMENT

                 Securities Initially Deposited
                             FT 283
     
     (Note:   Incorporated herein and made a part hereof for  the
Trust is the "Schedule of Investments" for the Trust as set forth
in the Prospectus.)







                       CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
                     111 WEST MONROE STREET
                    CHICAGO, ILLINOIS  60603
                                
                                
                                
                        October 20, 1998
                                
                                
                                
                                
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois  60532
     
     
     Re:                         FT 283

Gentlemen:
     
     We  have  served  as  counsel for Nike Securities  L.P.,  as
Sponsor   and  Depositor  of  FT  283  in  connection  with   the
preparation,  execution and delivery of a Trust Agreement   dated
October  20,  1998 among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor,  The
Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee and First Trust Advisors L.P. as
Evaluator  and  Portfolio  Supervisor,  pursuant  to  which   the
Depositor has delivered to and deposited the Securities listed in
Schedule  A to the Trust Agreement with the Trustee and  pursuant
to  which  the  Trustee has issued to or  on  the  order  of  the
Depositor  a  certificate or certificates representing  units  of
fractional  undivided  interest in  and  ownership  of  the  Fund
created under said Trust Agreement.
     
     In  connection  therewith, we have examined  such  pertinent
records  and  documents  and matters of law  as  we  have  deemed
necessary  in  order  to  enable  us  to  express  the   opinions
hereinafter set forth.
     
     Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
     
     1.   the  execution and delivery of the Trust Agreement  and
the  execution and issuance of certificates evidencing the  Units
in the Fund have been duly authorized; and
     
     2.   the certificates evidencing the Units in the Fund  when
duly  executed and delivered by the Depositor and the Trustee  in
accordance   with   the  aforementioned  Trust  Agreement,   will
constitute  valid  and binding obligations of the  Fund  and  the
Depositor in accordance with the terms thereof.
     
     We  hereby  consent  to the filing of  this  opinion  as  an
exhibit  to  the  Registration  Statement  (File  No.  333-63553)
relating  to the Units referred to above, to the use of our  name
and  to  the reference to our firm in said Registration Statement
and in the related Prospectus.
                                  Respectfully submitted,


                                  CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
EFF:erg




                        CHAPMAN AND CUTLER
                     111 WEST MONROE STREET
                    CHICAGO, ILLINOIS  60603
                                
                                
                                
                        October 20, 1998
                                
                                
                                
Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois  60532

The Chase Manhattan Bank
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York  10004-2413
     
     
     Re:                         FT 283

Gentlemen:
     
     We have acted as counsel for Nike Securities L.P., Depositor
of  FT 283 (the "Fund"), in connection with the issuance of units
of  fractional undivided interest in the Trust of said Fund  (the
"Trust"),  under a Trust Agreement, dated October 20,  1998  (the
"Indenture"), among Nike Securities L.P., as Depositor, The Chase
Manhattan  Bank,  as Trustee and First Trust  Advisors  L.P.,  as
Evaluator and Portfolio Supervisor.
     
     In  this  connection,  we  have  examined  the  Registration
Statement, the form of Prospectus proposed to be filed  with  the
Securities and Exchange Commission, the Indenture and such  other
instruments and documents we have deemed pertinent.  The opinions
expressed herein assume that the Trust will be administered,  and
investments by the Trust from proceeds of subsequent deposits, if
any, will be made, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
The  Trust holds Equity Securities as such term is defined in the
Prospectus.   For  purposes  of  the  following  discussion   and
opinion,  it is assumed that each Equity Security is  equity  for
Federal income tax purposes.
     
     Based  upon the foregoing and upon an investigation of  such
matters  of  law as we consider to be applicable, we are  of  the
opinion  that,  under existing United States Federal  income  tax
law:

       I.    The  Trust  is  not  an  association  taxable  as  a
corporation  for  Federal income tax purposes; each  Unit  holder
will be treated as the owner of a pro rata portion of each of the
assets of the Trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986  (the
"Code")  in the proportion that the number of Units held  by  him
bears to the total number of Units outstanding; under Subpart  E,
Subchapter  J of Chapter 1 of the Code, income of the Trust  will
be  treated  as  income  of the Unit holders  in  the  proportion
described above; and an item of Trust income will have  the  same
character in the hands of a Unit holder as it would have  in  the
hands  of  the  Trustee.  Each Unit holder will be considered  to
have  received  his  pro rata share of income derived  from  each
Trust asset when such income is considered to be received by  the
Trust.

     II.    The price a Unit holder pays for his Units, generally
including sales charges, is allocated among his pro rata  portion
of  each Equity Security held by the Trust (in proportion to  the
fair  market values thereof on the valuation date closest to  the
date  the  Unit holder purchases his Units) in order to determine
his  tax  basis for his pro rata portion of each Equity  Security
held  by  the  Trust.  For Federal income tax  purposes,  a  Unit
holder's pro rata portion of distributions of cash or property by
a  corporation with respect to an Equity Security ("dividends" as
defined by Section 316 of the Code) is taxable as ordinary income
to  the  extent  of  such corporation's current  and  accumulated
"earnings  and  profits."  A Unit holder's pro  rata  portion  of
dividends paid on such Equity Security which exceeds such current
and  accumulated earnings and profits will first  reduce  a  Unit
holder's  tax  basis in such Equity Security, and to  the  extent
that  such  dividends exceed a Unit holder's tax  basis  in  such
Equity  Security  shall  be treated as  gain  from  the  sale  or
exchange of property.

    III.    Gain  or  loss will be recognized to  a  Unit  holder
(subject  to  various nonrecognition provisions under  the  Code)
upon redemption or sale of his Units, except to the extent an  in
kind  distribution of stock is received by such Unit holder  from
the  Trust as discussed below.  Such gain or loss is measured  by
comparing  the  proceeds  of such redemption  or  sale  with  the
adjusted basis of his Units.  Before adjustment, such basis would
normally  be  cost if the Unit holder had acquired his  Units  by
purchase.  Such basis will be reduced, but not below zero, by the
Unit  holder's pro rata portion of dividends with respect to each
Equity Security which is not taxable as ordinary income.

     IV.    If the Trustee disposes of a Trust asset (whether  by
sale,  exchange, liquidation, redemption, payment on maturity  or
otherwise)  gain  or loss will be recognized to the  Unit  holder
(subject to various nonrecognition provisions under the Code) and
the  amount  thereof  will  be measured  by  comparing  the  Unit
holder's aliquot share of the total proceeds from the transaction
with  his basis for his fractional interest in the asset disposed
of.   Such basis is ascertained by apportioning the tax basis for
his Units (as of the date on which his Units were acquired) among
each  of  the Trust assets of the Trust (as of the date on  which
his Units were acquired) ratably according to their values as  of
the  valuation  date nearest the date on which he purchased  such
Units.   A Unit holder's basis in his Units and of his fractional
interest in each Trust asset must be reduced, but not below zero,
by  the  Unit holder's pro rata portion of dividends with respect
to each Equity Security which is not taxable as ordinary income.

      V.    Under  the Indenture, under certain circumstances,  a
Unit holder tendering Units for redemption may request an in kind
distribution of Equity Securities upon the redemption of Units or
upon  the  termination  of the Trust.  As  previously  discussed,
prior to the redemption of Units or the termination of the Trust,
a  Unit holder is considered as owning a pro rata portion of each
of  the  Trust's assets.  The receipt of an in kind  distribution
will  result in a Unit holder receiving an undivided interest  in
whole  shares of stock and possibly cash.  The potential  federal
income  tax  consequences  which  may  occur  under  an  in  kind
distribution  with respect to each Equity Security owned  by  the
Trust will depend upon whether or not a Unit holder receives cash
in  addition to Equity Securities.  An "Equity Security" for this
purpose  is  a  particular class of stock issued by a  particular
corporation.  A Unit holder will not recognize gain or loss if  a
Unit  holder only receives Equity Securities in exchange for  his
or  her  pro  rata portion of the Equity Securities held  by  the
Trust.   However, if a Unit holder also receives cash in exchange
for  a  fractional share of an Equity Security held by the Trust,
such Unit holder will generally recognize gain or loss based upon
the  difference between the amount of cash received by  the  Unit
holder  and his tax basis in such fractional share of  an  Equity
Security  held  by the Trust.  The total amount of taxable  gains
(or  losses) recognized upon such redemption will generally equal
the  sum  of  the  gain  (or  loss) recognized  under  the  rules
described above by the redeeming Unit holder with respect to each
Equity Security owned by the Trust.
     
     A  domestic  corporation owning Units in the  Trust  may  be
eligible  for  the 70% dividends received deduction  pursuant  to
Section 243(a) of the Code with respect to such Unit holders' pro
rata  portion of dividends received by such Trust (to the  extent
such  dividends  are  taxable as ordinary  income,  as  discussed
above, and are attributable to domestic corporations), subject to
the limitations imposed by Sections 246 and 246A of the Code.
     
     To   the   extent  dividends  received  by  the  Trust   are
attributable  to  foreign corporations, a corporation  that  owns
Units  will  not be entitled to the dividends received  deduction
with respect to its pro rata portion of such dividends, since the
dividends  received  deduction is generally available  only  with
respect to dividends paid by domestic corporations.
     
     Section  67  of the Code provides that certain miscellaneous
itemized  deductions,  such as investment  expenses,  tax  return
preparation   fees  and  employee  business  expenses   will   be
deductible by an individual only to the extent they exceed 2%  of
such  individual's adjusted gross income.  Unit  holders  may  be
required  to  treat some or all of the expenses of the  Trust  as
miscellaneous itemized deductions subject to this limitation.
     
     A  Unit holder will recognize taxable gain (or loss)when all
or  part of the pro rata interest in an Equity Security is either
sold  by the Trust or redeemed or when a Unit holder disposes  of
his  Units  in a taxable transaction, in each case for an  amount
greater (or less) than his tax basis therefor; subject to various
nonrecognition provisions of the Code.
     
     It  should  be noted that payments to the Trust of dividends
on   Equity   Securities   that  are  attributable   to   foreign
corporations may be subject to foreign withholding taxes and Unit
holders should consult their tax advisers regarding the potential
tax  consequences relating to the payment of any such withholding
taxes  by the Trust.  Any dividends withheld as a result  thereof
will  nevertheless  be  treated a income  to  the  Unit  holders.
Because  under the grantor trust rules, an investor is deemed  to
have paid directly his share of foreign taxes that have been paid
or  accrued, if any, an investor may be entitled to a foreign tax
credit  or deduction for United States tax purposes with  respect
to  such  taxes.  A required holding period is imposed  for  such
credits.
     
     Any  gain  or  loss recognized on a sale or  exchange  will,
under current law, generally be capital gain or loss.
     
     The  scope  of  this  opinion is expressly  limited  to  the
matters  set  forth  herein, and, except as expressly  set  forth
above,  we  express no opinion with respect to any  other  taxes,
including  foreign,  state  or  local  taxes  or  collateral  tax
consequences   with  respect  to  the  purchase,  ownership   and
disposition of Units.
     
     We  hereby  consent  to the filing of  this  opinion  as  an
exhibit  to  the  Registration  Statement  (File  No.  333-63553)
relating  to the Units referred to above and to the  use  of  our
name  and  to  the  reference to our firm  in  said  Registration
Statement and in the related Prospectus.
                                  Very truly yours,



                                  CHAPMAN AND CUTLER

EFF/erg





                    CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
                       COUNSELLORS AT LAW
                          2 WALL STREET
                    NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10005
                                
                                
                        October 20, 1998
                                
                                
                                
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee of
FT 283
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York  10004-2413

Attention:     Mr. Thomas Porrazzo
               Vice President
     
     
     Re:                         FT 283

Dear Sirs:
     
     We  are  acting as special counsel with respect to New  York
tax matters for the unit investment trust or trusts contained  in
FT 283 (each, a "Trust"), which will be established under certain
Standard  Terms and Conditions of Trust dated November 20,  1991,
and  a  related  Trust Agreement dated as of today (collectively,
the  "Indenture") among Nike Securities L.P., as  Depositor  (the
"Depositor"),  First  Trust Advisors L.P.,  as  Evaluator,  First
Trust  Advisors  L.P.,  as Portfolio Supervisor,  and  The  Chase
Manhattan  Bank,  as Trustee (the "Trustee").   Pursuant  to  the
terms of the Indenture, units of fractional undivided interest in
the  Trust  (the "Units") will be issued in the aggregate  number
set forth in the Indenture.
     
     We   have  examined  and  are  familiar  with  originals  or
certified   copies,  or  copies  otherwise  identified   to   our
satisfaction,  of such documents as we have deemed  necessary  or
appropriate  for  the purpose of this opinion.   In  giving  this
opinion,  we have relied upon the two opinions, each dated  today
and  addressed to the Trustee, of Chapman and Cutler, counsel for
the  Depositor,  with respect to the matters  of  law  set  forth
therein.
     
     Based  upon  the foregoing, we are of the opinion  that  the
Trust will not constitute an association taxable as a corporation
under  New York law, and accordingly will not be subject  to  the
New  York  State  franchise  tax or the  New  York  City  general
corporation tax.
     
     We  consent  to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit  to
the   Registration  Statement  (No.  333-63553)  filed  with  the
Securities   and   Exchange  Commission  with  respect   to   the
registration  of the sale of the Units and to the  references  to
our  name  under the captions "What is the Federal Tax Status  of
Unit-holders?"   and  "Legal  Opinions"  in   such   Registration
Statement and the preliminary prospectus included therein.
                                    
                                    Very truly yours,
                                    
                                    
                                    
                                    CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
                                    




                    CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
                       COUNSELLORS AT LAW
                          2 WALL STREET
                    NEW YORK, NEW YORK  10005
                                
                                
                        October 20, 1998
                                
                                
                                
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee of
  FT 283
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-2413

Attention:     Mr. Thomas Porrazzo
               Vice President


Re:                              FT 283

Dear Sirs:
     
     We  are  acting  as  counsel for The  Chase  Manhattan  Bank
("Chase")  in  connection with the execution and  delivery  of  a
Trust Agreement ("the Trust Agreement") dated today's date (which
Trust  Agreement incorporates by reference certain Standard Terms
and Conditions of Trust dated November 20, 1991, and the same are
collectively  referred to herein as the "Indenture")  among  Nike
Securities  L.P.,  as  Depositor (the "Depositor"),  First  Trust
Advisors  L.P.,  as  Evaluator, First  Trust  Advisors  L.P.,  as
Portfolio  Supervisor,  and Chase, as  Trustee  (the  "Trustee"),
establishing the unit investment trust or trusts included  in  FT
283  (each, a "Trust"), and the confirmation by Chase, as Trustee
under  the  Indenture, that it has registered on the registration
books of the Trust the ownership by the Depositor of a number  of
units  constituting  the  entire  interest  in  the  Trust  (such
aggregate  units  being  herein called "Units"),  each  of  which
represents  an undivided interest in the respective  Trust  which
consists  of common stocks (including, confirmations of contracts
for  the purchase of certain stocks not delivered and cash,  cash
equivalents  or an irrevocable letter of credit or a  combination
thereof,  in  the  amount  required for such  purchase  upon  the
receipt  of  such  stocks),  such stocks  being  defined  in  the
Indenture  as  Securities and referenced in the Schedule  to  the
Indenture.
     
     We   have  examined  the  Indenture,  a  specimen   of   the
certificates  to  be  issued hereunder (the "Certificates"),  the
Closing  Memorandum dated today's date, and such other  documents
as  we  have  deemed necessary in order to render  this  opinion.
Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
     
     1.    Chase  is  a  duly organized and existing  corporation
having the powers of a Trust Company under the laws of the  State
of New York.
    
    2.     The  Trust  Agreement  has  been  duly  executed   and
delivered  by Chase and, assuming due execution and  delivery  by
the  other  parties  thereto, constitutes the valid  and  legally
binding obligation of Chase.
    
    3.    The  Certificates are in proper form for execution  and
delivery by Chase, as Trustee.
    
    4.    Chase,  as  Trustee, has registered on the registration
books  of  the Trust the ownership of the Units by the Depositor.
Upon  receipt  of  confirmation  of  the  effectiveness  of   the
registration statement for the sale of the Units filed  with  the
Securities  and Exchange Commission under the Securities  Act  of
1933,  the  Trustee may deliver Certificates for such  Units,  in
such names and denominations as the Depositor may request, to  or
upon  the  order  of  the Depositor as provided  in  the  Closing
Memorandum.
    
    In  rendering the foregoing opinion, we have not  considered,
among  other  things,  whether  the  Securities  have  been  duly
authorized and delivered.

                                       Very truly yours,


                                       CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN





First Trust Advisors L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, Illinois  60532




October 20, 1998


Nike Securities L.P.
1001 Warrenville Road
Lisle, IL  60532

Re:  FT 283

Gentlemen:
     
     We   have  examined  the  Registration  Statement  File  No.
333-63553 for the above captioned fund.  We hereby consent to the
use  in  the  Registration Statement of the references  to  First
Trust Advisors L.P. as evaluator.
     
     You are hereby authorized to file a copy of this letter with
the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Sincerely,

First Trust Advisors L.P.



Robert M. Porcellino
Senior Vice President



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>  6
<LEGEND> This schedule contains summary financial information extracted
from Amendment number 1 to form S-6 and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to such Amendment number 1 to form S-6.
</LEGEND>                        
<SERIES>                         
<NUMBER>                         1
<NAME>                           Strategic Communications & Technology
                                 Trust Series
<MULTIPLIER>                     1

                                                                    
<S>                                             <C>                 
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                   Other               
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                               OCT-20-1998         
<PERIOD-START>                                  OCT-20-1998         
<PERIOD-END>                                    OCT-20-1998         
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                           147,826             
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                          147,826             
<RECEIVABLES>                                   0                   
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  0                   
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                            0                   
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  147,826             
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                        0                   
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                         0                   
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                       0                   
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                             0                   
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                 0                   
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                        147,826             
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                            15,007             
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                            15,007             
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       0                   
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                          0                   
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                         0                   
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                        0                   
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                        0                   
<NET-ASSETS>                                    147,826             
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                               0                   
<INTEREST-INCOME>                               0                   
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  0                   
<EXPENSES-NET>                                  0                   
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                         0                   
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                        0                   
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                       0                   
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           0                   
<EQUALIZATION>                                  0                   
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                       0                   
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                        0                   
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                           0                   
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         0                   
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     0                   
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             0                   
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                          0                   
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                         0                   
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                       0                   
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                         0                   
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                      0                   
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                           0                   
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                              0                   
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                 0                   
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                            0                   
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                           0                   
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                 0                   
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                         0                   
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                            0                   
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                       0                   
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                            0                   
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                             0                   
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                 0                   
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                          0                   
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                            0                   
        



</TABLE>


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