

                                                              Exhibit 23.3





                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

     We hereby consent to the  incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting  part of this  Registration  Statement  on Form S-3 of Ashland
Inc.  of our  report  dated  March  12,  1998  relating  to  the  financial
statements  of Marathon Oil Company  Downstream  Businesses  (a division of
Marathon Oil Company), which appears in the Current Report on Form 8-K/A of
Ashland Inc. dated March 17, 1998.




/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP

PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP

Pittsburgh, PA
March 19, 1998

  

