A heavy steeled instrument, employed for cutting down trees, and by carpenters and other mechanics for cutting large masses of wood, when attention to much exactness is unnecessary, or the saw cannot be conveniently used. It consists of a broad blade of iron, with a loop, or eye, for the reception of a long wooden handle, which passes through it at right angles. The cutting-edge is steeled to about an inch in breadth and to the back of the eye, in some kinds, is welded a solid lump of steel, called the poll, which serves the carpenter as a very efficient heavy hammer for driving spikes, forcing up large tenons, mortices, etc. The form of axes are very various, being adapted to peculiar trades, and accommodated to provincial prejudices. The most perfect instruments we have seen of this kind, are the productions of several tool-smiths, distributed over the county of Kent. One we recollect at Seal, another at Seven Oaks. We have thought it proper to mention this fact, as the article alluded to has a very decided superiority over those made in our great manufacturing towns.

The smaller kind of axes, weighing under 2 lbs. each, are denominated hatchets.