



                                                        Exhibit 23.3


                      Consent of Independent Auditors

We consent to the  incorporation  by reference  in  Amendment  No. 2 to the
Registration  Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-54762) and the related Prospectus
of Ashland Inc.  (Ashland) for the  registration  of 149,300  shares of its
common stock, of (i) our report dated January 24, 2001, with respect to the
consolidated  financial  statements of Arch Coal, Inc. and (ii) our opinion
dated March 29, 2001 with respect to the  financial  statement  schedule of
Arch Coal, Inc.,  included in its Annual Report on Form 10-K (as amended by
Form 10-K/A,  Amendment No. 1) for the year ended September 30, 2000, filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission.



/s/ Ernst & Young LLP

St. Louis, Missouri
March 28, 2001

