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

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.

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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 an issue with Brother Mizell abandoning his assigned district in Tennessee, discussing an issue with Rufus Hefflin departing the North Carolina Conference before a hearing could be held regarding charges against him, mentioning that he does not intend to transfer either of these preachers to Texas, sharing his tentative plans for holding the Tennessee, Holston, and Virginia Conferences, and discussing his disappointment in the conduct of the northern forces.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine describing his injuries and recovery after being in a train accident, sharing that despite his accident he still plans on attending several conferences, and requesting Paine reschedule the Memphis Conference so that Early can attend.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine offering condolences on Paine's poor health, explaining that it was not safe for him to travel to the last meeting of the College of Bishops in Louisville, sharing that he hopes to attend a meeting of trustees for one of the Methodist colleges, offering to assist Paine in running the Holston Conference, and asking about a missing portion of his salary from the previous year.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine confirming that the distribution to Paine from the Bishop Fund of the Virginia Conference was correct, requesting Paine facilitate the disbursement of $500 from the North Carolina Conference Bishop Fund, and providing a brief update on his health.

A letter from John Early to Robert Paine explaining that he was delayed in his travels but plans on continuing to Natchez, asking Paine to send a preacher to a Presiding Elder Field from the Virginia Conference, making suggestions for who to send to Field, suggesting a preacher to sent to Washington City, suggesting Paine advise the preacher being sent to Randolph about his responsibility to the local congregation, and asking about a preacher who was transferred to Virginia.

A letter from O. P. Fitzgerald, an editor at the Christian Advocate, to Mary Eliza Paine (née Millwater), offering his condolences on the death of her husband, Bishop Paine, asking if she is in possession of his drafts for the final installment of a series entitled "Notes of Life," and discussing the need to begin work on a biography of Bishop Paine.

A letter from H. H. Kavanaugh to Robert Paine reporting on his experiences of the Conferences he has attended, mentioning that the St. Louis Conference had some turmoil, discussing a draft made by D. W. Lewis and how he handled the matter, suggesting the bishops divide their work for the coming year at the April meeting, , proposing Paine call a meeting of the Bishops, requesting the transfer of a preacher to assist the Indian Mission Conference, discussing his concerns over the missionary funds and the support of the Indian Mission Conference in the coming year.