The series of articles entitled "Virginia Gleanings in England" originally appeared in "The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography." The complete "Virginia Gleanings" series, assembled here in book form, comprises some eighty-five articles, the bulk of them contributed by Lothrop Withington from his post in London. The "gleanings" consist of abstracts of English wills and administrations relating to Virginia and Virginians and bear reference to heirs and issue, family members, administrators, property, bequests, places of residence, and dates of emigration, shedding light on the English origins of Virginia families of the 17th and 18th centuries, and naming some 15,000 persons in passing. These family "gleanings" are furthermore extended backwards and forwards in a remarkable series of textual annotations. The articles are reprinted here in the order in which they appeared in the Magazine and are followed by a complete index of names.

Contains opinions and comment on other currently published newspapers and magazines, a selection of poetry, essays, historical events, voyages, news (foreign and domestic) including news of North America, a register of the month's new publications, a calendar of forthcoming trade fairs, a summary of monthly events, vital statistics (births, deaths, marriages), preferments, commodity prices. Samuel Johnson contributed parliamentary reports as "Debates of the Senate of Magna Lilliputia."