(the ancient Matrico), a town of France, capital of the department of Saône-et-Loire, is situate on the declivity and at the foot of a hill, on the right bank of the Saône, which is here crossed by an old stone bridge of 12 arches, 38 miles N. of Lyons. The town, though pleasantly situate, is ill built, the streets being generally narrow, crooked, and ill paved, and the houses, though mostly of stone, of a dull and sombre appearance. The ramparts that formerly surrounded the town have been laid out in public walks. A handsome quay extends along the bank of the river. The chief public buildings are,—the town-hall, containing a theatre and public library, the old episcopal palace, now the residence of the prefect, the general hospital, the prison, and some of the churches. Macon is the seat of tribunals of primary instance, and of commerce; and has a communal college, society of arts and agriculture, school of design, and a primary normal school. It has no manufactures of importance, being principally dependent on its trade in wine, the produce of the vicinity. Pop. (1861) 12,653.

a town of the United States of North America, capital of Bibb county Georgia, on both sides of the Ocmulgee, here crossed by a bridge 380 feet in length, 30 miles S.W. of Milledgeville. Being situate at the head of the river navigation, Macon has been steadily increasing in importance. In 1822 it was little more than a village, but now has become the third town in Georgia, both as regards commercial importance and population. Its chief public buildings are,—a court-house, market-house, and a Wesleyan female college founded 1839. Cotton is the staple trade, and is shipped here for the sea-coast in large quantities. In the vicinity there is a much-admired cemetery and a curious mound, supposed by some to be artificial. Pop. (1850) 5953, (1853) about 7000.