SCHEDULE 14A INFORMATION
 
                  Proxy Statement Pursuant to Section 14(a) of
            the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No.    )
 
    Filed by the Registrant /X/
    Filed by a party other than the Registrant / /
 
    Check the appropriate box:
    / /  Preliminary Proxy Statement
    / /  Confidential, for Use of the Commission Only (as permitted by Rule
         14a-6(e)(2))
    / /  Definitive Proxy Statement
    /X/  Definitive Additional Materials
    / /  Soliciting Material Pursuant to Section 240.14a-11(c) or Section 
         240.14a-12

                          THE ST. PAUL COMPANIES, INC.
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                (Name of Registrant as Specified In Its Charter)
 
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    (Name of Person(s) Filing Proxy Statement, if other than the Registrant)
 
Payment of Filing Fee (Check the appropriate box):
 
/X/  No fee required

/ /  Fee computed on table below per Exchange Act Rules 14a-6(i)(1) 
     and 0-11

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        pursuant to Exchange Act Rule 0-11 (set forth the amount on which the
        filing fee is calculated and state how it was determined):

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/ / Fee paid previously with preliminary materials.

/ / Check box if any part of the fee is offset as provided by Exchange Act Rule
    0-11(a)(2) and identify the filing for which the offsetting fee was paid
    previously. Identify the previous filing by registration statement number,
    or the Form or Schedule and the date of its filing.

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Attached is a message with respect to the St. Paul's Annual Shareholders' 
meeting to be held May 5, 1998 which will be included in Proxy Statement 
material mailings to participants in certain St. Paul Benefit Plans.

Dear Participant,

As a participant in The St. Paul Companies, Inc. Savings Plus Plan and/or
The St. Paul Companies, Inc. Stock Ownership Plan, (which consists of the
Employee Stock Ownership Plan ("ESOP") accounts and the Savings Plus 
Preferred Stock Ownership Plan ("PSOP") accounts), you have the right to
direct Fidelity Management Trust Company ("Fidelity") as trustee of Savings
Plus and the PSOP accounts, and First Trust N.A. ("First Trust"), as trustee
of the ESOP accounts, on how to vote the shares of St. Paul stock credited to 
your account under the plans.

The enclosed proxy card will also serve as a trustee instruction card that 
you may use to give voting instructions to Fidelity and First Trust. Your 
directions to the trustees will be kept confidential.

If First Chicago Trust Company of New York which is acting as the tabulating 
agent does not receive your instruction card by April 30, 1998, Fidelity will 
(1) not vote the shares of common stock credited to your account under The 
St. Paul Companies, Inc. Savings Plus Plan and (2) vote in its sole 
discretion the shares of preferred stock credited to your PSOP account under 
The St. Paul Companies, Inc. Stock Ownership Plan. Fidelity will also vote in 
its sole discretion the shares of preferred stock not credited to 
participants' accounts under The St. Paul Companies, Inc. Stock Ownership 
Plan.

If First Chicago Trust Company of New York receives your proxy card by 
April 30, 1998, First Trust will vote all ESOP shares credited to 
participants' accounts under The St. Paul Companies, Inc. Stock Ownership
Plan as instructed.

For your information the following codes and the accounts that they represent 
may appear on your proxy card:




                 
       Common       Shares held in your name in certificate form, including dividend reinvestment
       Sav+         Shares held in your Savings Plus Common Stock Fund Account
       ESOP         Shares held in your ESOP Account
       BSOP         Portion of the December 31, 1997 ESOP allocation that come from Broker
                     Stock Ownership Plan Shares.
       PSOP         Shares of Preferred Stock held in the Preferred Stock Ownership Plan. These
                     shares are entitled to four votes at the meeting.
       ESIP         Shares held in the Employee Stock Investment Plan
       RSAP         Restricted Stock








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