<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 001
   <NAME> JOHN HANCOCK TAX-EXEMPT INCOME FUND - CLASS A
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1995
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               DEC-31-1995
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      473,955,312
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     516,930,920
<RECEIVABLES>                               11,726,918
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 122,945
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                        42,975,608
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             528,780,783
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                    19,433,358
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    4,969,586
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                         24,402,944
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                   470,926,567
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                       45,056,903
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                       46,945,981
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       90,719
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                    (9,352,555)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    42,713,108
<NET-ASSETS>                               504,377,839
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                                    0
<INTEREST-INCOME>                           31,894,499
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               5,126,911
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                     26,767,588
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                   (5,790,750)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   54,393,534
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       75,370,372
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                   26,480,078
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                      5,088,200
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                  8,974,201
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                          1,996,923
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      32,929,049
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                          2,796
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                  (3,473,882)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        2,683,990
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              5,203,555
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       489,364,447
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                             9.96
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                   0.58
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           1.04
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.58
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              11.00
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.04
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>