Exhibit 23.1



                       Consent of Independent Accountants


We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the  registration  statement of
Conning  Corporation on Form S-8 (File No.  333-42781) of our report dated March
27,  1998,  on our  audit  of the  financial  statements  of  Schroder  Mortgage
Associates,  L.P.  as of December  31,  1997 and for the year then ended,  which
report is included in this Current Report on Form 8-K.



New York, New York                        /s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
September 2, 1998