Pricing Supplement No. 42        Filing under Rule 424(b)
(3)
Dated January 6, 1994            Registration File No. 33-
33931
(to Prospectus dated May 16,
1990 and Prospectus Supplement
dated March 15, 1991)







                        $200,000,000
                The St. Paul Companies, Inc.
                 Medium-Term Notes, Series A
                              
                              
                              
          Principal Amount:        $1,200,000
          
          Fixed Interest Rate:     6.17%
          
          Stated Maturity:    January 15, 2001
          
          Issue Price (as a percentage of
            principal amount):      100%
          
          Selling Agent's Commission (%):      .60%
          
          Net Proceeds to the Company (%):   99.40%
          
          Settlement Date (original
            issue date): January 13, 1994
          
          Selling Agent: Goldman, Sachs & Co.
          
          
          
          
          As of the date of this Pricing Supplement, the
aggregate initial public offering price of the Debt
Securities (as defined in the Prospectus) which has been
sold (including the Notes to which this Pricing Supplement
relates) is $200,000,000.

                              
                    GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                              
                J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES, INC.