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                                  EXHIBIT 24.1

                               POWERS OF ATTORNEY
            OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS OF ACCEL INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION


The undersigned officers and/or directors of ACCEL International Corporation, a
Delaware corporation, which anticipates filing a Form 10-K under the provisions
of the Securities Act of 1934 with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
Washington, D.C., hereby constitutes and appoints Thomas H. Friedberg, Cynthia
A. Moore and Nicholas Z. Alexander, and each of them, severally, with full power
of substitution and resubstitution, as attorneys or attorney to sign for the
undersigned in any and all capacities such Form 10-K and any and all amendments
thereto, and any and all applications or other documents to be filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission pertaining to such Form 10-K with full power
and authority to do and perform any and all acts and things whatsoever required
and necessary to be done in the premises, as fully to all intents and purposes
as the undersigned could do if personally present. The undersigned hereby
ratifies and confirms all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents or their or his
substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

Executed by the following persons on behalf of the Registrant and in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Signature                     Title                                           Date              
<S>                           <C>                                             <C>        
/s/Thomas H. Friedberg        Chairman of the Board, President,               March, 9, 1998    
Thomas H. Friedberg           Chief Executive Officer, and Director                             
                              (principal executive officer)                                     
                                                                                                
/s/Cindy A. Moore             Senior Vice President, Chief Financial          March 4, 1998     
Cynthia A. Moore              Officer, and Treasurer (principal financial                       
                              and accounting officer)                                           
                                                                                                
/s/Robert Betagole            Director                                        March 17, 1998    
Robert Betagole                                                                                 
                                                                                                
/s/David T. Chase             Director                                        March 11, 1998    
David T. Chase                                                                                  
                                                                                                
/s/Douglas J. Coats           Director                                        March 5, 1998     
Douglas J. Coats                                                                                
                                                                                                
/s/Raymond H. Deck            Director                                        March 12, 1998    
Raymond H. Deck                                                                                 
                                                                                                
/s/Richard Desich             Director                                        March 12, 1998    
Raymond H. Deck                                                                                 
                                                                                                
/s/Kermit G. Hicks            Director                                        March 12, 1998    
Kermit G. Hicks                                                                                 
                                                                                                
/s/Stephen M. Qua             Director                                        March 6, 1998     
Stephen M. Qua                                                                                  
                                                                                                
/s/John P. Redding            Director                                        March 12, 1998    
John P. Redding                                                                                 
</TABLE>