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A letter from John Early to Robert Paine discussing the dangerous state of affairs in Virginia and Tennessee and recommending that they postpone the General Conference until 1863 since a number of conferences will not be able to safely hold their annual meetings due to military action.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine discussing his son-in-law's search for an appointment as a paymaster for the Confederate Army under recommendation to Jefferson Davis by a number of other prominent men, requesting that Paine add his recommendation to the list, mentioning the Virginia Convention's hesitance to secede, and sharing that he has heard the Baltimore Conference has voted by large majority to secede.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine offering his suggestions for shifting preachers within the Virginia Conference, informing Paine that he had transferred a preacher to the Virginia Conferences at the request of Bishop Andrew, commenting on a recent election, and asking for certificates used when preachers from other denominations convert.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine presenting options for arranging their attendance schedules at various conferences, reporting on the Western Virginia, Kentucky, and Louisville Conferences, mentioning that he is preparing certificates for ministers converting from other denominations, and discussing an issue of funding for missionaries to be sent to Central America.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine reporting on the success of the Western Virginia, Kentucky, and Louisville conferences, discussing issues with James Atkins, and asking Paine to pass along Early's greetings to members of the Holston Conference.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine discussing the preparation of missionaries for the China Mission, including where to transfer new preachers in the meantime so they can be best prepared for the work.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine reporting that he is recovering his health, sharing that his son has left after the death of Early's wife, expressing his intention to request that James Temple be transferred to Natchez, asking for an explanation about the transfer of John P. Dickinson and James B. Smith to the Alabama and Florida Conferences respectively, requesting a preacher be found to be transferred to Abingdon in Virginia, and asking after Paine's family and the late Bishop McKendree's wife.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine mentioning that his wife and daughter (Elizabeth) are both unwell, discussing his recent travels and future travel plans, making recommendations for possible preachers to assign to the Kansas Mission, discussing the transfer of William Parsons, expressing his concerns about the St. Louis Conference management, and discussing possibilities of sending a Bishop to the Pacific Conference and how to manage that Bishop's conferences while they are gone.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine mentioning that he and his wife travelled to Philadelphia to settle his daughter Bettie (Elizabeth) for medical treatment, sharing his plans to travel to Western Virginia, arguing that it is too expensive to send one of the Bishops to California and that he will discuss the matter with Bishop Andrew, confirming Paine's decisions to transfer two preachers to the St. Louis Conference, recommending that preachers be pulled from the Mississippi and St.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine asking after William Finlay who was recently transferred to the Virginia Conference, sharing his concern about manning the Kansas Missionary Conference in light of the manpower needed in both the Missouri and St. Louis Conferences, making suggestions for how the bishops can cover conference responsibilities if either Bishop Kavanaugh or Pierce travels to California, and asking for Paine's thoughts on the matter.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine stating that he cannot transfer a Brother Thomas to the Memphis Conference, mentioning that he will pass on Paine's notes on the East Texas and Louisiana Conferences to Bishop Andrew, reporting on his time at the Mississippi Conference, agreeing that the College of Bishops should hold their annual meeting at the same time as the Missionary Board in Nashville, discussing his recent months of travel, and confirming that he has enclosed the Certificate of Location for A. H. Thomas.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine asking if he had transferred some preachers to the Texan Conferences, requesting he transfer preachers from the Memphis to the Mississippi Conference, asking what occurred at the Tennessee Conference, and requesting clarification on the responsibilities of a book agent.

A letter from John Early to the President and Members of the East Texas Conference reporting on the business of the publishing house, including the securing of distribution arrangements across the country, the implementation of a subscription model to support the work of the publishing house, and requesting a copy of the minutes of any Annual Conferences attended by Robert Paine for publication.

An envelope addressed to Robert Paine from John Early, postmarked from Washington, D. C. on May, 25, 1860.

A letter from James A. Duncan to Robert Paine conveying in his role as "fraternal Messenger" the response of the Methodist Episcopal Church regarding the appointment of commissioners, specifying from whom and to whom he has received and conveyed the response in addition to Paine, and asking for Paine's pardon if he has delivered the message to anyone in error.

A letter from D. S. Doggett to Robert Paine asking for his thoughts on the case of Richard Smiley who is under investigation with the possibility of suspension from the conference, discussing Doggett's decision to temporarily replace Smiley with another preacher (Starr), asking if Paine might send another man to assist, and speaking to the uncertain position of Virginia in regards to the formation of the Confederacy and withdrawal from the Union.

A letter from D. S. Doggett to Robert Paine asking for suggestions on the topic of the upcoming Episcopal Address, requesting clarification on a number of matters to be recommended in the address, and sending well wishes to Paine's family.

A letter from D. S. Doggett to Robert Paine reporting on his and Bishop Pierce's attendance at the Baltimore Conference, their interactions with Northern Methodists there, and mentioning that he will be traveling to the district conferences in Tennessee and Alabama shortly.

A letter from a representative committee from Sehon Chapel to the Bishops of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, including Robert Paine, requesting the appointment of a new pastor, George W. Smiley, to replace their former pastor, E. W. Sehon, who has been reassigned.

A letter from William Capers to Robert Paine discussing recommendations for sending brother Pollock on to New Orleans, conflict between the Primary Elder and preacher in Boonville, and issues with a preacher named Michells.

A letter from William Capers to Robert Paine discussing the monetary collections he sent to Joshua Soule, offering his opinion on which of them should attend the Alabama Conference annual meeting, and listing where each of the conferences' annual meetings in the eastern region will be held.