SCHEDULE 14A
                                 (Rule 14a-101)

                     INFORMATION REQUIRED IN PROXY STATEMENT
                            SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION

                Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of the
                Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )

Filed by the Registrant  [X]
Filed by a Party other than the Registrant  [  ]

Check the appropriate box:
[ ] Preliminary Proxy Statement     [ ]  Confidential, For Use of the Commission
                                         Only (as permitted by Rule 14a-6(e)(2))
[X] Definitive Proxy Statement
[ ] Definitive Additional Materials
[ ] Soliciting Material Pursuant to Rule 14a-11(c) or Rule 14a-12

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Eaton Vance Senior Income Trust
                (Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)

Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
[X] No fee required.
[ ] Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i) (1) and 0-11.

(1)  Title of each class of securities to which transaction applies:
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(2)  Aggregate number of securities to which transaction applies:
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(3)  Per unit price or other underlying value of transaction  computed  pursuant
     to Exchange  Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the filing fee is
     calculated and state how it was determined):
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(4)  Proposed maximum aggregate value of transaction:
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(5)  Total fee paid:
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[ ] Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
[ ] Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange  Act Rule
0-11(a)(2)  and  identify  the  filing  for  which the  offsetting  fee was paid
previously.  Identify the previous filing by registration  statement  number, or
the form or schedule and the date of its filing.

(1)  Amount Previously Paid:
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(2)  Form, Schedule or Registration Statement no.:
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(3)  Filing Party:
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(4)  Date Filed:
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                         EATON VANCE SENIOR INCOME TRUST
                            The Eaton Vance Building
                                255 State Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02109

                                                       September 7, 2001


Dear Shareholder:

     You are cordially  invited to attend the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders of
Eaton Vance Senior Income Trust (the "Fund") to be held at the principal  office
of the Fund, The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts
02109, on Friday, October 26, 2001 at 1:30 P.M. (Boston time).

     At this  meeting you will be asked to consider the election of Trustees and
you will have an  opportunity  to hear a report on the Fund.  The enclosed proxy
statement contains additional information.

     We hope that you will be able to attend  the  meeting.  Whether  or not you
plan to attend and  regardless  of the number of shares you own, it is important
that your shares be  represented.  You are urged to complete,  sign and date the
enclosed proxy card and return it in the enclosed  postage-paid envelope as soon
as possible to assure that your shares are represented at the meeting.

                                                       Sincerely,

                                                       /s/ James B. Hawkes
                                                       James B. Hawkes
                                                       President and Trustee


                                    IMPORTANT

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOUR SHARES BE REPRESENTED AT THE ANNUAL  MEETING.  WHETHER
OR NOT YOU PLAN TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL  MEETING IN PERSON,  YOU ARE  REQUESTED  TO
COMPLETE,  SIGN AND RETURN THE ENCLOSED PROXY CARD AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.  YOU MAY
WITHDRAW  YOUR  PROXY IF YOU ATTEND  THE  ANNUAL  MEETING  AND DESIRE TO VOTE IN
PERSON.






                         EATON VANCE SENIOR INCOME TRUST


                    NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS
                       To Be Held Friday, October 26, 2001

     The Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  of Eaton Vance Senior Income Trust, a
Massachusetts  business trust (the "Fund"), will be held at the principal office
of the Fund, The Eaton Vance Building, 255 State Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts
02109, on Friday, October 26, 2001 at 1:30 P.M. (Boston time), for the following
purposes:

     1.   To elect two Trustees of the Fund.

     2.   To consider and act upon any other  matters  which may  properly  come
          before the Meeting and any adjourned session thereof.

     The Board of Trustees has fixed the close of business on August 29, 2001 as
the record date for the  determination  of the shareholders of the Fund entitled
to notice of and to vote at the meeting and any adjournments thereof.

                                             By Order of the Board of Trustees

                                             /s/ Alan R. Dynner

                                             Alan R. Dynner
                                             Secretary

September 7, 2001
Boston, Massachusetts

IMPORTANT  -  SHAREHOLDERS  CAN HELP THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES OF THE FUND AVOID THE
NECESSITY AND ADDITIONAL EXPENSE TO THE FUND OF FURTHER  SOLICITATIONS TO OBTAIN
A QUORUM BY PROMPTLY  RETURNING  THE  ENCLOSED  PROXY.  THE  ENCLOSED  ADDRESSED
ENVELOPE  REQUIRES NO POSTAGE IF MAILED IN THE UNITED STATES AND IS INTENDED FOR
YOUR CONVENIENCE.








                         EATON VANCE SENIOR INCOME TRUST
                            The Eaton Vance Building
                                255 State Street
                           Boston, Massachusetts 02109



                                 PROXY STATEMENT


     A proxy is  enclosed  with the  foregoing  Notice of the Annual  Meeting of
Shareholders of Eaton Vance Senior Income Trust (the "Fund"), to be held October
26, 2001 for the benefit of shareholders  who do not expect to be present at the
meeting. This proxy is solicited on behalf of the Board of Trustees of the Fund,
and is revocable by the person  giving it prior to exercise by a signed  writing
filed with the Fund's  Secretary,  or by executing and  delivering a later dated
proxy,  or by attending the meeting and voting the shares in person.  Each proxy
will be voted in accordance with its  instructions;  if no instruction is given,
an executed proxy will authorize the persons named as attorneys, or any of them,
to vote in favor of the election of each Trustee.  This proxy  material is being
mailed to shareholders on or about September 7, 2001.

     The Board of Trustees  of the Fund has fixed the close of  business  August
29, 2001, as the record date for the determination of the shareholders  entitled
to  notice  of  and to  vote  at  the  meeting  and  any  adjournments  thereof.
Shareholders at the close of business on the record date will be entitled to one
vote for each share held. As of August 29, 2001,  there were  35,948,079  Common
Shares of beneficial  interest,  $.01 par value per share ("Common  Shares") and
4,400 Auction Preferred Shares, $.01 per value per share, liquidation preference
$25,000  per  share  ("APS"),  of the  Fund  outstanding.  As of such  date,  no
shareholder  beneficially  owned  more than 5% of the  outstanding  shares.  The
Trustees and officers of the Fund, as a group, own beneficially  less than 1% of
the shares of the Fund.

     The Board of  Trustees  of the Fund  knows of no  business  other than that
mentioned  in Item 1 of the  Notice  of  Meeting  which  will be  presented  for
consideration.  If any other matters are properly presented, it is the intention
of the persons  named as attorneys in the enclosed  proxy to vote the proxies in
accordance with their judgment on such matters.

                        PROPOSAL 1. ELECTION OF TRUSTEES

     The Fund's  Declaration  of Trust provides that the Board of Trustees shall
be divided  into  three  classes.  The term of office of the Class III  Trustees
expires on the date of the 2001  Annual  Meeting,  and the term of office of the
Class I and  Class  II  Trustees  will  expire  one and  two  years  thereafter,
respectively.  Trustees  chosen to succeed the Trustees whose terms are expiring
will be elected for a three-year  term. An effect of staggered terms is to limit
the ability of entities or persons to acquire control of the Fund.

     The Fund's  Declaration  of Trust  provides that a majority of the Trustees
shall fix the number of the entire  Board and that such number shall be at least
two and no greater than  fifteen.  The Board has fixed the number of Trustees at
seven.  Proxies will be voted for the election of the  following  two  nominees.
Each nominee is presently  serving as a Trustee and has consented to continue to
so serve.  In the event that a nominee is unable to serve for any reason  (which
is not now expected) when the election occurs,  the  accompanying  Proxy will be
voted for such other person or persons as the Board of Trustees may recommend.

                                       1




     The Trustees  serving  until the 2001 Annual  Meeting are Lynn A. Stout and
Jack L. Treynor.  The Trustees serving until the 2002 Annual Meeting are Jessica
M. Bibliowicz, Donald R. Dwight and James B. Hawkes. The nominees to serve until
the 2003  Annual  Meeting  are Samuel L. Hayes,  III and Norton H.  Reamer.  The
Trustees whose names are followed by (A) are APS Share Trustees.

     The nominees and Trustees and their principal  occupations for at least the
last five  years are as  follows.  The  Trustee  whose  name is  followed  by an
asterisk(*) is an "interested  person" (as defined in the Investment Company Act
of 1940  (the  "1940  Act"))  by reason of his  affiliations  with  Eaton  Vance
Management  ("EVM" or "Eaton Vance") the Fund's  investment  adviser,  and Eaton
Vance Corp.  ("EVC"),  a holding company which owns all of the outstanding stock
of Eaton Vance Business Trust ("EVBT"),  which owns all the outstanding stock of
EVM; and of EVM's trustee,  Eaton Vance,  Inc.  ("EV"),  which is a wholly-owned
subsidiary of EVC. (EVM, EVC, EVBT and their  affiliates are sometimes  referred
to collectively as the "EVC  organization".)  The Trustee whose name is followed
by two asterisks (**) is an "interested  person" because of her affiliation with
a brokerage firm.

     Under the terms of the Fund's  By-Laws,  as amended  (the  "By-Laws"),  the
holders of the APS are entitled as a class,  to the  exclusion of the holders of
the Common Shares,  to elect two Trustees of the Fund. No APS Trustees are to be
elected at this Meeting. Election of Trustees is non-cumulative.

                                    TRUSTEES



                                                                                               
                                                                                                 Number of
                                                                                                Portfolios
                                           Term of                                                in Fund         Other
                           Position(s)    Office and                                              Complex     Directorships
Name, Address               Held with     Length of    Principal Occupations During Past Five     Overseen       Held by
and Age                       Fund       Time Served                   Years                     by Trustee      Trustee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                        (FOR TRUSTEES NOMINATED FOR ELECTION IN 2001:)

Lynn A. Stout                Trustee     Until 2004;   Professor of Law, University of               79           None
405 Hilgard Avenue                       2 Years       California at Los Angeles, School of
Los Angeles, CA  90095                                 Law (since July 2001).  Formerly,
Age:  43                                               Professor of Law, Georgetown University
                                                       Law Center.

Jack L. Treynor              Trustee     Until 2004;   Investment Advisor and Consultant.            80           None
504 Via Almar                            3 years
Palos Verdes Estates,
CA  90274
Age:  71


                                              (FOR OTHER INDEPENDENT TRUSTEES:)

Donald R. Dwight (A)         Trustee     Until 2002;   President of Dwight Partners, Inc. (a         83         Trustee/
16 Clover Mill Lane                      3 years       corporate relations and communications                   Director of
Lyme, NH  03768                                        company).                                                the Royce
Age:  70                                                                                                        Funds (mutual
                                                                                                                funds).

Samuel L. Hayes, III (A)     Trustee     Until 2003;   Jacob H. Schiff Professor of Investment       83         Trustee of
345 Nahatan Road                         3 years       Banking Emeritus, Harvard University                     Kobrick
Westwood, MA  02090                                    Graduate School of Business                              Investment
Age:  66                                               Administration.                                          Trust (mutual
                                                                                                                funds).


                                        2





                                                                                               
                                                                                                 Number of
                                                                                                Portfolios
                                           Term of                                                in Fund         Other
                           Position(s)    Office and                                              Complex     Directorships
Name, Address               Held with     Length of    Principal Occupations During Past Five     Overseen       Held by
and Age                       Fund       Time Served                   Years                     by Trustee      Trustee
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Norton H. Reamer             Trustee     Until 2003;   Chairman and Chief Operating Officer,         83           None
One International Place                  3 years       Hellman, Jordan Management Co., Inc. (an
Boston, MA  02110                                      investment management company) (since
Age:  65                                               November 2000) and President, Jordan
                                                       Simmons Capital LLC (manager of energy
                                                       related investments) (since November
                                                       2000).  President, Unicorn Corporation
                                                       (an investment and financial advisory
                                                       services company) (since September 2000).
                                                       Previously, Chairman of the Board and
                                                       Chief Executive Officer, United Asset
                                                       Management Corporation (a holding
                                                       company owning institutional investment
                                                       management firms).  Previously he also
                                                       served as Chairman, President and
                                                       Director, UAM Funds (mutual funds).


                                                  (FOR REMAINING TRUSTEES:)

James B. Hawkes*           President     Until 2002;   Chairman, President and Chief Executive       83           None
255 State Street           and Trustee   3 years       Officer of EVM, EVBT, EVC and EV.
Boston, MA  02109
Age:  59

Jessica M. Bibliowicz**      Trustee     Until 2002;   President and Chief Executive Officer of      78           None
787 Seventh Avenue                       2 years       National Financial Partners (a financial
New York, NY  10019                                    services company) (since April 1999).
Age:  41                                               Formerly President and Chief Operating
                                                       Officer of John A. Levin & Co. (a
                                                       registered investment advisor) (July
                                                       1997 to April 1999) and a Director of
                                                       Baker, Fentress & Company which owns
                                                       John A. Levin & Co. (July 1997 to April
                                                       1999).  Prior thereto, Executive Vice
                                                       President of Smith Barney Mutual Funds.


     The following table shows the dollar range of shares  beneficially owned by
each Trustee in the Fund and the Eaton Vance complex of funds:

                                               Aggregate Dollar Range of Equity
                                                      Securities in all
                          Dollar Range of             Eaton Vance funds
Name of Trustee           Fund Shares Held           Overseen by Trustee
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Lynn A. Stout                   -0-                  $50,001 - $100,000*
Jack L. Treynor                 -0-                     $1 - $10,000
Donald R. Dwight                -0-                    Over $100,000*
Samuel L. Hayes                 -0-                    Over $100,000*
Norton H. Reamer                -0-                    Over $100,000
James B. Hawkes            Over $100,000               Over $100,000
Jessica M. Bibliowicz           -0-                  $10,001 - $50,000

*    Includes shares held in trustee deferred compensation plan.

                                       3




     During the fiscal year ended June 30,  2001,  the  Trustees of the Fund met
eight times,  the Special  Committee met four times and the Audit  Committee met
twice. Each Trustee attended at least 75% of the Board and committee meetings on
which he or she serves.

     The  Nominating  Committee  is  comprised  of all the  Trustees who are not
"interested persons" as that term is defined under the 1940 Act. Messrs. Treynor
(Chairman),  Dwight,  Hayes,  Reamer and Ms. Stout are currently  serving on the
Committee.  The purpose of the  Committee is to recommend to the Board  nominees
for the position of noninterested trustee and to assure that at least a majority
of the Board of Trustees is independent of Eaton Vance and its  affiliates.  The
Board will,  when a vacancy exists or is  anticipated,  consider any nominee for
trustee  recommended by a shareholder if such recommendation is submitted to the
Board in writing and contains sufficient background  information  concerning the
individual  to  enable  a  proper  judgment  to be made as to such  individual's
qualifications.

     Messrs. Hayes (Chairman),  Dwight,  Reamer and Ms. Stout are members of the
Special  Committee  of the Board of  Trustees  of the Fund.  The  purpose of the
Special Committee is to consider,  evaluate and make recommendations to the full
Board concerning (i) all contractual  arrangements with service providers to the
Fund, including investment advisory, administrative,  transfer agency, custodial
and fund  accounting  and  distribution  services  (if any),  and (ii) all other
matters in which  Eaton  Vance or its  affiliates  has any  actual or  potential
conflict of interest with the Fund or its shareholders.

     Messrs.  Treynor  (Chairman),  Dwight and  Reamer are  members of the Audit
Committee of the Board of Trustees of the Fund.  Each member is  independent  of
the Fund, as defined by New York Stock  Exchange  Listing  Standards.  The Audit
Committee's functions include making  recommendations to the Board regarding the
selection of the independent certified public accountants, and reviewing matters
relative  to trading  and  brokerage  policies  and  practices,  accounting  and
auditing  practices and  procedures,  accounting  records,  internal  accounting
controls,  and the  functions  performed by the  custodian,  transfer  agent and
dividend  disbursing  agent of the  Fund.  Set  forth  below  under  "Additional
Information" is the Audit Committee's Report.

REMUNERATION OF TRUSTEES

     The fees and expenses of those  Trustees of the Fund who are not members of
the Eaton Vance organization will be paid by the Fund. For the fiscal year ended
June 30,  2001,  the  noninterested  Trustees of the Fund  earned the  following
compensation in their capacities as Trustees of the Fund, and for the year ended
December  31, 2000 earned the  following  compensation  in their  capacities  as
Trustees of the funds in the Eaton Vance fund complex(1):

                                                                Total
                                     Aggregate               Compensation
                                    Compensation              From Fund
  Name of Trustee                    from Fund             and Fund Complex
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Jessica M. Bibliowicz               $2,690                   $160,000
  Donald R. Dwight                     3,444                    162,500(2)
  Samuel L. Hayes, III                 3,737                    170,000
  Norton H. Reamer                     3,441                    160,000
  Lynn A. Stout                        3,780                    160,000(3)
  Jack L. Treynor                      3,845                    170,000

(1)  As of  August 1,  2001,  the  Eaton  Vance  fund  complex  consisted  of 83
     registered investment companies or series thereof.
(2)  Includes $60,000 of deferred compensation.
(3)  Includes $16,000 of deferred compensation.

                                       4




     Trustees of the Fund who are not  affiliated  with Eaton Vance may elect to
defer receipt of all or a percentage of their annual fees in accordance with the
terms of a Trustees Deferred Compensation Plan (the "Trustees' Plan"). Under the
Trustees' Plan, an eligible Trustee may elect to have his deferred fees invested
by the Fund in the  shares  of one or more  funds in the Eaton  Vance  Family of
Funds,  and the amount paid to the  Trustees  under the  Trustees'  Plan will be
determined based upon the performance of such investments. Deferral of Trustees'
fees in accordance with the Trustees' Plan will have a negligible  effect on the
Fund's assets, liabilities,  and net income per share, and will not obligate the
Fund to retain  the  services  of any  trustee or  obligate  the Fund to pay any
particular  level of  compensation  to the  trustee.  The  Fund  does not have a
retirement plan for its Trustees.

     The Trustees shall be elected by the affirmative  vote of a majority of the
Fund's shares voting at the Annual Meeting.

     THE BOARD OF TRUSTEES RECOMMENDS THAT SHAREHOLDERS VOTE FOR THE ELECTION OF
THE TWO NOMINEES TO THE FUND'S BOARD OF TRUSTEES.

                       NOTICE TO BANKS AND BROKER/DEALERS

     The Fund has previously solicited all Nominee and Broker/Dealer accounts as
to the  number of  additional  proxy  statements  required  to supply  owners of
shares.  Should  additional  proxy material be required for  beneficial  owners,
please forward such requests to PFPC,  Inc.  Attention:  Mr. Joseph P. Lundbohm,
P.O. Box 8030, Boston, MA 02266.

                             ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT.  The Audit Committee  reviewed and discussed the audited
financial  statements with Fund  management.  The Audit Committee also discussed
with the  independent  auditors  the matters  required to be discussed by SAS 61
(Codification of Statements on Auditing Standards). The Audit Committee received
the written disclosures and the letter from the independent accountants required
by Independence  Standards  Board Standard No. 1  (Independence  Standards Board
Standard No. 1, Independence  Discussions with Audit Committees),  and discussed
with the independent accountants their independence.

     Based on the review and discussions  referred to above, the Audit Committee
recommended  to the Board of Trustees that the audited  financial  statements be
included in the Fund's annual report to  shareholders  for the fiscal year ended
June 30, 2001 for filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                    Jack L. Treynor, Chairman
                                    Donald R. Dwight
                                    Norton H. Reamer

AUDITORS, AUDIT FEES AND ALL OTHER FEES. Deloitte & Touche LLP ("Deloitte"), 200
Berkeley Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts 02116, serves as independent  certified
public  accountants  of the Fund.  Deloitte is expected to be represented at the
Annual  Meeting,  but if not, a  representative  will be  available by telephone
should the need for  consultation  arise.  For the most recent fiscal year,  the
Fund paid an  aggregate  of $111,180  in  professional  fees to their  auditors,
Deloitte. Deloitte also provides services to numerous other investment companies
sponsored by Eaton Vance.  Total fees paid to Deloitte by Eaton Vance Corp. (and
its  affiliates)  for the most recent  fiscal  year ended  October 31, 2000 were
$259,000.  The Audit  Committee and Board of Trustees of the Fund are aware that
Deloitte provides services to the Eaton Vance organization.

                                       5



OFFICERS OF THE FUND.  The  officers of the Fund,  with their ages  indicated in
parenthesis,  are as follows:  James B. Hawkes  (59),  President;  Scott H. Page
(41),  Vice  President and  Co-Portfolio  Manager,  and Vice  President of Eaton
Vance;  Payson F. Swaffield (45), Vice President and Co-Portfolio  Manager,  and
Vice President of Eaton Vance;  Michael W. Weilheimer (40), Vice President,  and
Vice  President  of  Eaton  Vance;  Alan R.  Dynner  (60),  Secretary,  and Vice
President and Secretary of Eaton Vance; James L. O'Connor (56),  Treasurer,  and
Vice President of Eaton Vance;  Barbara E. Campbell (44),  Assistant  Treasurer,
and Vice President of Eaton Vance;  Janet E. Sanders (65),  Assistant  Treasurer
and Assistant Secretary, and Vice President of Eaton Vance; A. John Murphy (38),
Assistant  Secretary,  and Vice  President of Eaton Vance;  and Eric G. Woodbury
(44),  Assistant  Secretary,  and  Vice  President  of Eaton  Vance.  All of the
officers of the Fund have been employed by Eaton Vance or their predecessors for
more than five  years  except Mr.  Dynner,  who was a Partner of the law firm of
Kirkpatrick & Lockhart LLP, New York and  Washington  D.C.,  and Executive  Vice
President  of  Neuberger & Berman  Management,  Inc.,  a mutual fund  management
company,  prior to November 1, 1996. Because of their positions with Eaton Vance
and their  ownership of Eaton Vance Corp.  stock,  the officers of the Fund will
benefit  from the  advisory  and  administration  fees paid by the Fund to Eaton
Vance. As of the record date, the officers of the Fund owned 19,000 shares.

INVESTMENT ADVISER AND ADMINISTRATOR.  Eaton Vance Management with its principal
office at The Eaton Vance  Building,  255 State  Street,  Boston,  Massachusetts
02109, serves as the investment adviser and administrator to the Fund.

PROXY  SOLICITATION  AND  TABULATION.  The expense of  preparing,  printing  and
mailing this Proxy Statement and enclosures and the costs of soliciting  proxies
on  behalf  of the  Board of  Trustees  of the Fund  will be borne by the  Fund.
Proxies  will  be  solicited  by mail  and  may be  solicited  in  person  or by
telephone,  telegraph or facsimile by officers of the Fund,  by personnel of its
administrator,   Eaton  Vance,  by  the  transfer  agent,   PFPC,  Inc.,  or  by
broker-dealer  firms.  The expenses  connected  with the  solicitation  of these
proxies  and with any  further  proxies  which may be  solicited  by the  Fund's
officers,  by Eaton Vance  personnel,  by the transfer agent,  PFPC, Inc., or by
broker-dealer  firms, in person,  or by telephone,  by telegraph or by facsimile
will be borne by the Fund.  A written  proxy may be delivered to the Fund or its
transfer agent prior to the meeting by facsimile machine,  graphic communication
equipment or similar  electronic  transmission.  The Fund will reimburse  banks,
broker-dealer  firms, and other persons holding shares registered in their names
or in the names of their nominees,  for their expenses incurred in sending proxy
material to and  obtaining  proxies from the  beneficial  owners of such shares.
Total estimated costs are $15,000.

     All proxy  cards  solicited  by the  Board of  Trustees  that are  properly
executed and received by the Secretary  prior to the meeting,  and which are not
revoked,  will be voted at the meeting.  Shares represented by such proxies will
be voted in accordance with the  instructions  thereon.  If no  specification is
made on the proxy  card with  respect  to  Proposal  1, it will be voted for the
matters specified on the proxy card. For purposes of determining the presence or
absence  of a quorum  and for  determining  whether  sufficient  votes have been
received for approval of any matter to be acted upon at the meeting, abstentions
and broker  non-votes  (i.e.,  proxies from brokers or nominees  indicating that
such persons have not received  instructions  from the beneficial owner or other
person entitled to vote shares on a particular  matter with respect to which the
brokers or nominees do not have  discretionary  power) will be treated as shares
that are  present at the  meeting  but which have not been  voted.  Accordingly,
abstentions and broker  non-votes will assist the Fund in obtaining a quorum but
will have no effect on the outcome of Proposal 1.

                                       6




     In the event that sufficient votes by the shareholders of the Fund in favor
of any  Proposal  set forth in the Notice of this  meeting  are not  received by
October 26, 2001,  the persons  named as  attorneys  in the  enclosed  proxy may
propose one or more  adjournments of the meeting to permit further  solicitation
of proxies.  A shareholder  vote may be taken on one or more of the Proposals in
this Proxy  Statement  prior to such  adjournment if sufficient  votes have been
received and it is otherwise appropriate.  Any such adjournment will require the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the shares present in person or
by proxy at the session of the  meeting to be  adjourned.  The persons  named as
attorneys in the  enclosed  proxy will vote in favor of such  adjournment  those
proxies  which  they are  entitled  to vote in favor of the  Proposal  for which
further  solicitation  of proxies is to be made. They will vote against any such
adjournment those proxies required to be voted against such Proposal.  The costs
of any such additional  solicitation and of any adjourned  session will be borne
by the Fund.

     THE FUND  WILL  FURNISH,  WITHOUT  CHARGE A COPY OF THE  FUND'S  ANNUAL  OR
SEMI-ANNUAL  REPORTS TO ANY SHAREHOLDER UPON REQUEST.  SHAREHOLDERS  DESIRING TO
OBTAIN A COPY OF SUCH REPORT SHOULD WRITE TO THE FUND C/O PFPC,  INC., ATTN: MR.
JOSEPH P. LUNDBOHM, P.O. BOX 8030, BOSTON, MA 02266, OR CALL 1-800-331-1710.

                              SHAREHOLDER PROPOSALS

     Any  proposals  of  shareholders  that are  intended to be presented at the
Fund's  2002  Annual  Meeting of  Shareholders  must be  received  at the Fund's
principal  office no later  than June 15,  2002 and must  comply  with all legal
requirements  in order to be included in the Fund's proxy  statement and form of
proxy for that meeting.


                                                EATON VANCE SENIOR INCOME TRUST


September 7, 2001

                                       7









                                      PROXY

                         EATON VANCE SENIOR INCOME TRUST

                Annual Meeting of Shareholders, October 26, 2001
                 Proxy Solicited on Behalf of Board of Trustees



     The  undersigned  holder of shares of  beneficial  interest  of Eaton Vance
Senior  Income  Trust,  a  Massachusetts  business  trust (the  "Fund"),  hereby
appoints JAMES B. HAWKES, ALAN R. DYNNER and ERIC G. WOODBURY, and each of them,
with full power of  substitution  and  revocation,  as proxies to represent  the
undersigned at the Annual Meeting of  Shareholders of the Fund to be held at the
principal  office  of the Fund,  The Eaton  Vance  Building,  255 State  Street,
Boston,  Massachusetts  02109, on Friday,  October 26, 2001 at 1:30 P.M., and at
any and all adjournments  thereof, and to vote all shares of beneficial interest
of the Fund which the undersigned would be entitled to vote, with all powers the
undersigned  would  possess  if  personally  present,  in  accordance  with  the
instructions on this proxy.

              PLEASE VOTE, DATE, AND SIGN ON OTHER SIDE AND RETURN
                         PROMPTLY IN ENCLOSED ENVELOPE.


SEE REVERSE        CONTINUED AND TO BE SIGNED ON REVERSE SIDE        SEE REVERSE
   SIDE                                                                 SIDE




         Please mark
[  X  ]  votes as in
         this example.

WHEN THIS PROXY IS  PROPERLY  EXECUTED,  THE SHARES  REPRESENTED  HEREBY WILL BE
VOTED AS SPECIFIED.  IF NO  SPECIFICATION  IS MADE, THIS PROXY WILL BE VOTED FOR
THE PROPOSAL SET FORTH BELOW AND IN THE  DISCRETION  OF THE PROXIES WITH RESPECT
TO ALL OTHER MATTERS  WHICH MAY PROPERLY COME BEFORE THE ANNUAL  MEETING AND ANY
ADJOURNMENTS  THEREOF. THE UNDERSIGNED  ACKNOWLEDGES RECEIPT OF THE ACCOMPANYING
NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING AND PROXY STATEMENT.


1.   To elect two Trustees of the Fund as follows:
     Nominees:  (01)  Lynn A. Stout and
                (02)  Jack L. Treynor


          FOR                       WITHHELD
          ALL     [  ]        [  ]  FROM ALL
        NOMINEES                    NOMINEES

[  ]  -------------------------------------
      (Instructions:  To withhold authority to vote for any
      nominee, write those nominees' names above:)



                            MARK HERE FOR ADDRESS CHANGE AND NOTE AT LEFT [   ]

                            MARK HERE FOR COMMENT AND NOTE AT LEFT        [   ]


                    Please sign this proxy  exactly as your name  appears on the
                    books of the Fund. Joint owners should each sign personally.
                    Trustees and other fiduciaries  should indicate the capacity
                    in which they sign, and where more than one name appears,  a
                    majority must sign. If a corporation,  this signature should
                    be that of an authorized officer who should state his or her
                    title.


Signature:______________  Date:________  Signature:______________  Date:________