EXHIBIT 23.1
                       [SALOMON SMITH BARNEY LETTERHEAD]

                     CONSENT OF SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
                     -------------------------------------

     We hereby consent to the use of our name and to the description of our
opinion letter, dated November 4, 1999, under the captions "Summary," "The
Merger--Background of the Merger" and "The Merger--Opinion of EnergyNorth's
Financial Advisor" in, and to the inclusion of such opinion letter as Annex B
to, the Proxy Statement/Prospectus of EnergyNorth, Inc., which Proxy
Statement/Prospectus is part of the Registration Statement on Form S-4 of
Eastern Enterprises. By giving such consent we do not thereby admit that we are
experts with respect to any part of such Registration Statement within the
meaning of the term "expert" as used in, or that we come within the category of
persons whose consent is required under, the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
promulgated thereunder.

                                                 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.

New York, New York
March 10, 2000