Exhibit 23


                          Consent of Independent Accountants



We consent to the  incorporation by reference in the registration  statements of
HSB Group, Inc. on Forms S-8 (File Nos. 33-4397, 33-36519, and 333-29605) of our
report  dated  January 26,  1998,  on our audits of the  consolidated  financial
statements  and  financial  statement  schedules  of HSB  Group,  Inc.  and  its
subsidiaries  as of December  31, 1997 and 1996,  and for the three years in the
period ended  December 31, 1997,  which report is included in this Annual Report
on Form 10-K.





/s/ Coopers & Lybrand



Hartford, Connecticut
March 27, 1998