August 28, 2000
Brown Brothers Harriman & Company
40 Water Street
Boston, MA 02109
Re: JOHN HANCOCK EQUITY TRUST
John Hancock Growth Trends Fund
Dear Sirs:
John Hancock Equity Trust (the "Trust"), a Massachusetts business
trust, on its own behalf and on behalf of the above-named series of the Trust
(the "Fund") hereby notifies Brown Brothers Harriman & Company (the "Bank") that
the Trust desires to place and maintain the Fund's securities and cash in the
custody of the Bank pursuant to the Amended and Restated Master Custodian
Agreement between John Hancock Mutual Funds and the Bank dated March 9, 1999 to
be effective August 28, 2000.
If the Bank agrees to provide such services, please sign below and
return a signed original of this letter to the undersigned.
BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN JOHN HANCOCK EQUITY TRUST
& COMPANY On behalf of John Hancock Growth
Trends Fund
By: /s/W. Casey Gildea By: /s/Maureen R. Ford
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Name: W. Casey Gildea Name: Maureen R. Ford
Title: Senior Vice President Title: President
signature guaranteed
medallion guaranteed
Attest: /s/Emmet C. Cadigan Attest: /s/Wendi Vincent
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