EXHIBIT 23.1




INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT






      We  consent  to  the  incorporation  by  reference  in  this  Registration
Statement of Orion Capital  Corporation on Form S-8 of our reports dated
February 11, 1998 and June 19, 1998 appearing  in the  Annual  Report  on 
Form  10-K  of  Orion  Capital Corporation for the year ended December 31, 1997
and in the Annual Report on Form 11-K of the Orion Capital 401K and Profit
Sharing Plan for the year ended December 31, 1997, respectively.















Deloitte & Touche, LLP
Hartford, Connecticut
July 10, 1998