Joxas, eminent for his benevolent designs and useful writings, was born at Portsmouth in Hampshire on the 12th of August 1712. His father, Mr Thomas Hanway, was an officer in the naval service, and for some years store-keeper to the dockyard at that place. He was deprived of his life by an accident; and left his widow with four children, Jonas, William, Thomas, and Elizabeth, all of a very tender age. Mrs Hanway coming to London after the death of her husband, put Jonas to school, where he learned writing and accounts, and made some proficiency in Latin. At the age of 17 he was sent to Lisbon, where he arrived in June 1729, and was bound apprentice to a merchant in that city. His early life, we are informed, was marked with that discreet attention to business, and love of neatness and regularity, which afterwards distinguished his character. At Lisbon his affections were captivated by a lady, then celebrated for her beauty and mental accomplishments: but she, preferring another for her husband, returned to England, and spent the latter part of her life in London with her family, on terms of friendship with Mr Hanway.—On the expiration of Mr Hanway's apprenticeship, he entered into business at Lisbon as a merchant or factor; but did not remain there long before he returned to London.

He soon after connected himself as a partner in Mr Dingley's house in St Petersburgh; where he arrived on the 10th of June 1743. The trade of the English nation over the Caspian sea into Persia at this period had been entrusted to the care of Mr Elton, who, not content with the pursuit of commercial affairs, had judiciously engaged in the service of Nadir Shah to build ships on the Caspian after the European manner. This had alarmed the merchants in the Russian trade, and a resolution was formed that one of their body should make a journey into Persia. On this occasion Mr Hanway offered his service, and was accepted. He set out on the 10th of September; and after experiencing a variety of hazards in that kingdom during a course of 12 months, returned to St Petersburgh January 1, 1745, without being able to establish the intended trade by the Caspian, partly through the jealousy of the Russian court on account of Elton's connections with the Persians, and partly by the troubles and revolutions of the latter kingdom.

Though Mr Hanway's conduct during this expedition seems to have been directed by the strictest rules of integrity, yet some difficulties arose in settling his demands on his employers. These, however, in the end were referred to the determination of impartial arbitrators, who at length decided in his favour. "I obtained (he says) my own; and as to any other personal advantage, it consisted in exercising my mind in patience under trials, and increasing my knowledge of the world." He now settled at St Petersburgh; where he remained five years, with no other variations in his life than such as may be supposed to occur in the dull round of a mercantile employment. During this time he interested himself greatly in the concerns of the merchants who had engaged in the Caspian trade: but the independence he had acquired having excited a desire to see his native country, he, after several disappointments which prevented him from accomplishing his wish, left St Petersburgh on the 9th of July 1750. On his arrival in his native country, he did not immediately relinquish his mercantile connections, though he seems to have left Russia with that view. He employed himself some time as a merchant; but afterwards, more beneficially to the world, as a private gentleman. In 1753 he published "An Historical Account of the British trade over the Caspian sea; with a Journal of Travels from London through Russia into Persia; and back again through Russia, Germany, and Holland. To which are added, the Revolutions of Persia during the present century, with the particular History of the great Usurper Nadir Kouli," 4 vols 4to; a work which was received, Hanway received, as it deserved to be, with great attention from the public. In 1754, we find Mr Hanway commending a plan offered for the advantage of Westminster, and suggesting hints for the further improvement of it, in "A Letter to Mr John Spranger, on his excellent Proposal for Paving, Cleaning, and Lighting the Streets of Westminster, &c." 8vo. A few years afterwards, when a scheme of the like kind was carried into effect, many of Mr Hanway's ideas, thrown out in this pamphlet, were adopted. In 1756, he printed "A Journal of Eight Days Journey from Portsmouth to Kingston upon Thames, with an Essay upon Tea;" which was afterwards reprinted in two volumes 8vo, 1757.

At this juncture, Great Britain being on the eve of a war with France, the event of which was very important to the nation at large, and required every effort of patriotism and prudence to ward off the impending danger, Mr Hanway published "Thoughts on the Duty of a good Citizen with regard to War and Invasion, in a Letter from a Citizen to his Friend," 8vo. About the same time, several gentlemen formed a plan which was matured and made perfect by the affluity of Mr Hanway, for providing the navy with sailors, by furnishing poor children with necessaries to equip them for the service of their country. The success and propriety of this scheme soon became apparent. Mr Hanway wrote and published three pamphlets on this occasion; and the treasurer of the Society, accompanied by Mr Hanway, having waited on the king, the Society received 1000l. from his majesty, 400l. from the prince of Wales, and 200l. from the princess dowager. This excellent institution through life was the favourite object of Mr Hanway's care, and continued to flourish under his auspices greatly to the advantage of the community. In 1758 he became an advocate for another charitable institution, which derived considerable emolument from his patronage of it. This was the Magdalen Charity; and to assist it he published "A Letter to Robert Dingley, Esq. being a proposal for the Relief and Employment of friendless Girls and repenting Prostitutes," 4to. He also printed other small performances on the same subject.

In 1759, Mr Hanway wrote "Reasons for an Augmentation of at least Twelve Thousand Mariners, to be employed in the Merchants Service and Coasting Trade, in 33 Letters to Charles Gray, Esq. of Colchester, 4to." The next year he published several performances, viz. 1. "A candid historical Account of the Hospital for the reception of exposed and deserted young Children; representing the present Plan of it as productive of many Evils, and not adapted to the Genius and Happiness of this Nation," 8vo; which being answered by an anonymous Letter from Halifax in "Candid Remarks, 8vo 1760," Mr Hanway replied to it, and the Remarker rejoined. 2. "An account of the Society for the Encouragement of the British Troops in Germany and North America, &c." 8vo. 3. "Eight Letters to —— Duke of ——, on the Custom of Vails giving in England," 8vo. This practice of giving vails had arrived at a very extravagant pitch, especially among the servants of the great. It was Mr Hanway who answered the kind reproach of a friend in a high station for not coming oftener to dine with him, by saying, "Indeed I cannot afford it." The Hanway, nobleman to whom the above letters were addressed was the duke of Newcastle. The letters are written in that humorous style which is most attractive of general notice, and was best adapted to the subject. It was Sir Timothy Waldo that first put Mr Hanway on this plan. Sir Timothy had dined with the duke of N——, and, on his leaving the house, was contributing to the support and insolence of a train of servants who lined the hall; and at last put a crown into the hand of the cook, who returned it, saying, "Sir I do not take silver."—"Don't you indeed!" said the worthy baronet, putting it in his pocket: "then I do not give gold." Among the ludicrous circumstances in Mr Hanway's letters is one which happened to himself. He was paying the servants of a respectable friend for a dinner which their master had invited him to, one by one as they appeared; "Sir, your great coat;" a shilling—"Your hat?" a shilling—"Stick;" a shilling—"Umbrella;" a shilling—"Sir, your gloves;"—"Why, friend, you may keep the gloves; they are not worth a shilling." In 1761, Mr Hanway produced "Reflections, Essays, and Meditations on Life and Religion; with a collection of Proverbs, and 18 Letters written occasionally on several subjects," in 2 vols 8vo.

The many useful and public-spirited plans which Mr Hanway had promoted for the welfare of the community, had now rendered his character most respectfully popular, while his disinterestedness, and the sincerity of his intentions, were conspicuous to all. Five citizens of London, of whom Mr Hoare the banker was one, waited on Lord Bute, at that time the minister: and, in their own names, and in the names of their fellow-citizens, requested that some notice might be taken of a man, who, at the expence of his own private fortune, and unremitting application, had rendered so many and such meritorious services to his country. In consequence of this request, he was in July 1762 appointed by a patent one of the commissioners for virtualizing the navy; a post which he held above 21 years. The next act of public beneficence in which we find him engaged is the collection of money for the sufferers by the fire which happened at Montreal, in the province of Quebec, in May 1765, when a fourth part of the city was consumed. On this occasion Mr Hanway, in conjunction with two other gentlemen, collected 841l.—The very next year a dreadful fire broke out in Bridge-Town in Barbadoes, which consumed buildings and property to the amount of near 100,000l. A subscription was opened, in which Mr Hanway was a principal actor, and 14,886l. were collected, and transmitted to a committee appointed at Barbadoes to distribute it to the unfortunate sufferers. At subsequent periods he continued to interest himself in various other plans for relieving the distresses, and promoting the good, of different classes of the community. His attention was particularly directed towards alleviating the miseries of young chimney-sweepers. Besides the distresses of these helpless beings, which are open to general observation, such as a contortion of the limbs, and the prevention of their growth, they are liable to a disease peculiar to their occupation, now known by the name of the chimney-sweepers cancer. Four children have been brought together into a workhouse, all afflicted with this dread- Hanway, ful and incurable disease. After much inquiry and consideration he published, in 1773, "The State of the Chimney-sweepers Young Apprentices; shewing the wretched Condition of these distressed Boys; the ill Conduct of such masters as do not observe the Obligation of Indentures; the Necessity of a strict Inquiry in order to support the civil and religious Rights of these apprentices," 12mo. This small pamphlet has already been productive of some advantages to the objects intended to be benefited by it. The succeeding year, 1774, he enlarged a former publication, entitled "Advice from a Farmer to his Daughter, &c. and republished it under the title of "Virtue in humble Life: containing Reflections on the reciprocal Duties of the Wealthy and Indigent, the Master and the Servant," 2 vols 8vo; a work deserving the particular consideration of every magistrate. This edition in a few months being sold, he reprinted it in two quarto volumes, with a dedication to Mrs Montagu.

In 1783, finding his health decline, he determined to resign his office at the victualling board, which he did on the 2d of October that year; and immediately received a grant of his whole salary by way of a pension, to continue for life. This favour he owed to the esteem which his majesty, to whom he was personally known, entertained for him; excited by his various exertions in behalf of his country and mankind.—He was now released from his most material business, but did not think it would conduce to his happiness to lead an idle life. He engaged again in behalf of the chimney-sweepers boys; and promoted, by every means in his power, the establishment of Sunday-schools, which are now in a fair way to be adopted in every county in England. He likewise promoted a subscription for the relief of the many black poor people who wandered about the metropolis in extreme distress; and the lords of the treasury seconded the design, by directing money, as far as 14l. a-head, to be issued to the committee, to enable them to send the blacks to such places abroad as might be fixed on. After encountering many obstacles, about 300 negroes were sent, properly accommodated with provisions and necessaries, to Africa, under the conduct of a person approved for that station. The object of this plan, besides relieving the misery of these poor people, was to prevent in time the unnatural connections between black persons and white, the disagreeable consequences of which make their appearance but too frequently in our streets.

In the summer of 1786 Mr Hanway's health declined so visibly that he thought it necessary to attend only to that. He had long felt the approach of a disorder in the bladder, which, increasing by degrees, caused a strangury; and at length, on the 5th of September 1786, put a period to a life spent almost entirely in the service of his fellow-creatures. On the 13th he was interred in the family-vault at Hanwell, being attended to the grave by a numerous retinue of friends; and after his death the public regard to his virtues was displayed by a subscription of several hundred pounds towards erecting a monument to perpetuate his memory.

Mr Hanway in his person was of the middle size, of a thin spare habit, but well shaped: his limbs were fashioned with the nicest symmetry. In the latter years of his life he stooped very much; and when he walked, found it conducive to ease to let his head incline towards one side: but when he went first to Russia at the age of 30, his face was full and comely, and his person altogether such as obtained for him the appellation of the Handsome Englishman. In his dress, as far as was consistent with his health and ease, he accommodated himself to the prevailing fashion. As it was frequently necessary for him to appear in polite circles on unexpected occasions, he usually wore dress clothes, with a large French bag. His hat, ornamented with a gold button, was of a size and fashion to be worn as well under the arm as on the head. When it rained, a small parapluie defended his face and wig. Thus he was always prepared to enter into any company without impropriety or the appearance of negligence. His dress for set public occasions was a suit of rich dark brown; the coat and waistcoat lined throughout with ermine, which just appeared at the edges; and a small gold-hilted sword. As he was extremely susceptible of cold, he wore flannel under the linings of all his clothes, and usually three pairs of stockings. He was the first man who ventured to walk the streets of London with an umbrella over his head. After carrying one near 30 years, he saw them come into general use. The precarious state of his health when he arrived in England from Russia, made it necessary for him to use the utmost caution; and his perseverance in following the advice of the medical practitioners was remarkable. After Dr Lieberkyn physician to the king of Prussia had recommended milk as a proper diet to restore his strength, he made it the chief part of his food for 30 years; and though it at first disagreed with him, he persisted in trying it under every preparation that it was capable of till it agreed with his stomach. By this rigid attention and care, his health was established; his lungs acquired strength and elasticity; and it is probable he would have lived several years longer, if the disorder which was the immediate cause of his death had left him to the gradual decay of nature. His mind was the most active that it is possible to conceive; always on the wing, and never appearing to be weary. He rose in the summer at four or five, and in the winter at seven. Having always business before him, he was every day employed till the time of retiring to rest; and, when in health, was commonly asleep within two minutes after his lying down in bed.

Writing was his favourite employment, or rather amusement; and when the number of his literary works is considered, and that they were the produce only of those hours which he was able to snatch from public business, an idea may be formed of his application. But by leaving his work to transect his ordinary business, and afterwards recurring to it with new ideas, all his literary labours are defective in the arrangement of the matter, and appear to have too much of the miscellaneous in their composition. The original idea is sometimes left in the pursuit of one newly started, and either taken up again when the mind of the reader has almost lost it, or it is totally deserted. Yet those who are judges of literary composition say, that his language is well calculated to have the effect he desired on the reader, and impress him with the idea that the author was a man of inflexible integrity, and wrote from the pure dictates of the heart. It is plain Hanway, and unornamented, without the appearance of art or the affectation of singularity. Its greatest defect (say they) is a want of conscience; its greatest beauty, an unaffected and genuine simplicity. He spoke French and Portuguese, and understood the Rufs and modern Persic imperfectly. Latin he had been taught at school, but had not much occasion to cultivate it after he entered into life.

Mr Hanway, although never married himself, was yet an advocate for marriage, and recommended it to all young people. He thought it the most effectual restraint on licentiousness, and that an increase of unhappiness was by no means the natural consequence of an increase of domestic cares. A "local habitation," with the society of a sensible woman, the choice of unbiased affection, he esteemed as the most engaging persuasive to the love of order and economy; without which he thought life, in whatever station, must be disjointed, perturbed, and unhappy. The lady who engaged his first affection was uncommonly handsome; and it is probable he was prevented from marrying only by his failing to obtain her, and the unsettled manner in which the first years of his life were spent: for he loved the society of women; and in the parties which frequently breakfasted at his house, the ladies usually made the greater portion of the company.

In his transactions with the world, he was always open, candid, and sincere. Whatever he said might be depended on with implicit confidence. He adhered to the strict truth, even in the manner of his relation; and no brilliancy of thought could induce him to vary from the fact: but although so frank in his own proceedings, he had seen too much of life to be easily deceived by others; and he did not often place a confidence that was betrayed. He did not, however, think the world so degenerate as is commonly imagined: "And if I did (he used to say), I would not let it appear; for nothing can tend so effectually to make a man wicked, or to keep him so, as a marked suspicion. Confidence is the reward of truth and fidelity, and these should never be exerted in vain." In his department of commissioner for victualling the navy he was uncommonly assiduous and attentive; and kept the contractors and persons who had dealings with the office at a great distance. He would not even accept a hare or pheasant or the smallest present, from any of them; and when any were sent him, he always returned them, not in a morose manner, as if he affected the excess of disinterestedness, but with some mild answer; such as, "Mr Hanway returns many thanks to Mr ——— for the present he intended him; but he has made it a rule not to accept any thing from any person engaged with the office: A rule which, whilst he acknowledges Mr ———'s good intentions, he hopes he will not expect him to break through." With all this goodness, Mr Hanway had a certain singularity of thought and manners, which was perhaps the consequence of his living the greater part of his life in foreign countries, and never having been married. He was not by any means an inattentive observer of the little forms of politeness: but as he had studied them in various realms, selecting those which he approved, his politeness differed from that of other people; and his conversation had an air of originality in it that was very pleasing.

Besides the works already mentioned in the course of this article, Mr Hanway was the author of a great number of others; his different publications amounting altogether to between sixty and seventy. A complete list of them is given by his biographer Mr Pugh, from whose grateful and well-written performance this article has been chiefly extracted.