


   
                                                              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 (Amendment No.
1) 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
May 1, 1998

    
