CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS


We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference in the Prospectus
constituting part of this Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration
Statement No. 333-24009 on Form S-3 of our report dated February 10, 1997
appearing on page F-1 of The Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United
States' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996. We
also consent to the incorporation by reference of our report on the
Consolidated Financial Statement Schedules dated February 10, 1997 which
appears on page F-47 of such Annual Report on Form 10-K. We also consent to
the references to us under the heading "Independent Accountants" in this
Prospectus.




/s/ Price Waterhouse LLP

Price Waterhouse LLP
New York, New York
September 18, 1997