(St.) a sea-port town of France, in the province of Brittany, situated in the latitude of 48 degrees 38 minutes north, and 1 degree 57 minutes to the west. The town stands upon a rock called the island of St Aaron, surrounded by the sea at high water, which is now joined to the continent, by means of a fort of causey or dike, near a mile long, called the Sillon, which has been often damaged by storms, and was almost quite ruined in the year 1730. At the end of this causey next the town is a castle, flanked with large towers, a good ditch, and a large bastion. The city nearly covers the whole surface of the island, and is of an oblong form, surrounded with a strong rampart, on which there is a number of cannon.—There is always in it a good garrison. The cathedral church is dedicated to St Vincent, and stands in the square of the same name, as do also the town-house and the episcopal palace. There are some other squares in the place, but less remarkable; and as to the streets, except two or three, they are all very narrow. There being no springs of fresh water in St Malo, the inhabitants are at great pains to convey the rain which falls on the roofs of their houses into cisterns; and of this they have enough for all family-uses. There is only one parish-church in the town, though it contains between 9000 and 10,000 inhabitants; but there are several convents of monks and nuns, and a general hospital. The two entrances into the harbour are defended by several forts, such as that of the Conchal; of the great and the little bay; the forts of Ille-Rebours, Sczembre, Rotenoeuf; the castle of Latte, and Fort-Royal. There are several little isles near the harbour, the most considerable whereof is that of St Sezembre, which is near a quarter of a league in circumference, and serve as so many outworks to the fortifications of the city, and are useful as bulwarks, by breaking the violence of the waves, which otherwise would beat with great force against the walls of the city. At the end of the causey next the continent stands the suburb of St Servant, large and well built. Here the merchants have their houses and store-houses. Here is the dock-yard; and a secure harbour is formed by the river Rance, where ships of great burden can ride at anchor very near the houses. The harbour is one of the best in the kingdom, and most frequented by merchant-ships; but it is of very difficult and dangerous access on account of the rocks which lie round it. The town of St Malo is exceedingly well situated for trade; and accordingly, in this respect, it has succeeded beyond most towns in France. It maintains a trade with England, Holland, and Spain.—The commerce of Spain is of all the most considerable, and most profitable to the inhabitants of St Malo, the ships of the Malouins being frequently employed as register ships by the Spaniards, to carry out the rich cargoes to Peru and Mexico, and bring home treasure and plate from America. The inhabitants of St Malo carry on also a considerable trade in dry and salted cod to Newfoundland. They send to this fishery a good many vessels from 100 to 300 tons burden, with salt for the fish, and provisions for subsisting the crews. They carry their fish to Italy, Spain, and some to Bordeaux and Bayonne, and bring home the returns in fruits, soap, oil, &c. which are disposed of to great advantage at Nantes. St Malo is the capital of the bishopric of that name, which is of considerable extent; and the soil about it produces most kinds of grain and fruits in great abundance. The most remarkable towns in the district and diocese of St Malo, are St Servand, Cancalle, Chateauneuf, Dinan, Tintiniac, Combourg, Montfort, Breal, Guer, Plomercel, Josselin, &c.

Maclo, or Mahout, (Saint), the son of a gentleman in Great Britain, and cousin to St Magloire, was educated in a monastery in Ireland, and afterwards chosen bishop of Gui-Castel, a dignity which his humility prevented him from accepting. The people wishing to compel him, he went into Brittany, and put himself under the direction of a holy anchorite called Aaron, in the neighbourhood of Aleth. Some time after, about the year 541, he was chosen bishop of that city, and there cultivated piety and religion with great success. He afterwards retired to a solitude near Xaintes, where he died November 15, 565. From him the city of St Malo derives its name; his body having been carried thither, after the reduction of Aleth to a small village called Guidalet or Guichallet, and the transference of the episcopal see to St Malo.