CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
COUNSELLORS AT LAW
2 WALL STREET
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10005
November 9, 2000
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee of
FT 478
4 New York Plaza, 6th Floor
New York, New York 10004-3113
Attention: Mr. John Fabrizio
Vice President
Re: FT 478
Dear Sirs:
We are acting as special counsel with respect to New York
tax matters for the unit investment trust or trusts included in
FT 478 (each, a "Trust"), which will be established under a
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. 333-49288) 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 in such Registration Statement and the preliminary
prospectus included therein.
Very truly yours,
CARTER, LEDYARD & MILBURN
