EXHIBIT 23(a)

                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS




The Board of Directors
The St. Paul Companies, Inc.:

We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration
Statements on Form S-8 (SEC File No. 33-15392, No. 33-23446, No. 33-
23948, No. 33-24220, No. 33-24575, No. 33-26923, No. 33-49273, No. 33-
56987,  No. 333-01065, No. 333-22329, No. 333-25203, No. 333-28915,
No. 333-48121, No. 333-50941, No. 333-50943 and No. 333-67983), and
Form S-3 (SEC File No. 333-44122) of The St. Paul Companies, Inc., of
our reports dated January 23, 2001, relating to the consolidated
balance sheets of The St. Paul Companies, Inc. and subsidiaries as of
December 31, 2000 and 1999, and the related consolidated statements
of income, shareholders' equity, comprehensive income and cash flows
for each of the years in the three-year period ended December  31,
2000, and related schedules I through V, which reports appear or are
incorporated by reference in the December 31, 2000 annual report on
Form 10-K of The St. Paul Companies, Inc.




Minneapolis, Minnesota                            /s/ KPMG LLP
March 28, 2001                                        --------
                                                      KPMG LLP