Exhibit 15




August 10, 1998



Orion Capital Corporation
9 Farm Springs Road
Farmington, CT 06032

We have made a review, in accordance with standards  established by the American
Institute of Certified Public  Accountants,  of the unaudited  interim financial
information of Orion Capital  Corporation and subsidiaries for the periods ended
June 30, 1998 and 1997, as indicated in our report dated July 29, 1998;  because
we did not perform an audit, we expressed no opinion on that information.

We are aware  that our  report  referred  to above,  which is  included  in your
Quarterly  Report  on  Form  10-Q  for the  quarter  ended  June  30,  1998,  is
incorporated  by  reference  in  Registration  Statements  No.  2-80636  and No.
333-58941 on Form S-8 relating to the Orion Capital  Corporation  1982 Long-Term
Performance  Incentive Plan, No. 333-58905 on Form S-8 relating to Orion Capital
Corporation  Equity  Incentive  Plan, No. 2-63344 and No.  333-58889 on Form S-8
relating to the Orion Capital 401(K) and Profit  Sharing Plan, No.  33-59847 and
No.  333-58939 on Form S-8 relating to the Orion Capital  Corporation 1994 Stock
Option Plan for  Non-Employee  Directors,  No. 333-44901 on Form S-8 relating to
the Wm. H. McGee & Co., Inc.  401(K) and Profit Sharing Plan, and No.  333-55671
on Form S-8 relating to Orion  Capital  Corporation  Employees'  Stock  Purchase
Plan.

We also are aware that the aforementioned report,  pursuant to Rule 436(c) under
the  Securities  Act, is not  considered  a part of the  Registration  Statement
prepared or certified by an accountant  or a report  prepared or certified by an
accountant within the meaning of Sections 7 and 11 of that Act.

DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP



Hartford, Connecticut