1
 
   
                                                                    Exhibit 23.1
    
 
                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
                            ------------------------
   
 
We consent to the inclusion in the Prospectus constituting part of this
Registration Statement on Form S-1 of our reports dated January 22, 1999, on our
audits of the consolidated financial statements, selected historical
consolidated income statement and balance sheet data and the financial statement
schedule of The Goldman Sachs Group, L.P. and Subsidiaries. We also consent to
the references to our firm under the captions "Experts", "Summary Consolidated
Financial Data", and "Selected Consolidated Financial Data".
    
 
/s/ PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
 
New York, New York
   
April 29, 1999.