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EXHIBIT 23-A. CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration statement of
Hercules Incorporated on Form S-8 [Registration No. 33-37279 (which includes
Registration No. 33-21668), No. 33-14912, No. 33-15052, No. 33-21667, No.
33-47664, No. 33-51178, No. 33-52621, No. 33-66136, No. 33-62314, No. 33-65352,
No. 333-38795, and No. 333-38797] and on Form S-3 (Registration No.333-63423) of
our report, which includes an explanatory paragraph regarding a change, in 1997,
in the company's method of accounting for costs incurred in connection with an
enterprise software installation, dated February 19, 1999, on our audits of the
consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedule of Hercules
Incorporated and subsidiary companies as of December 31, 1998 and 1997 and for
each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1998, which report is
included in this Annual Report on Form 10-K.



/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
March 30, 1999