Southern Christian Advocate

For the Southern Christian Advocate.
LETTER FROM TAMPA, FLA.

Dear Brother Wightman,--I send you these hastily written lines, not as my quarterly report, but to speak of the 3d and 4th quarterly meetings just held, the one at Manatee the other at Tampa. Though there was no extensive revival yet we had some very interesting and refreshing seasons.

My presiding elder, bro. Griffin, reached here on the evening of Oct. 13th, accompanied by brother Kennedy and lady, from Ocala, and on the Thursday afterwards we all left for Manatee, on the little mail sloop, Mary Navis, Capt. Bishop. We had a very pleasant sail down the bay, bro. and sister K.'s first, and just as the sun was sinking behind the keys, which enclose the great bay of Espiritu Santo, we came to anchor off the settlement upon the Manatee river. Nothing of more than usual interest occurred until Saturday night: in prayer-meeting, at the house of Dr. B--; the Lord was evidently present, and in answer to earnest prayer, blessed every professor, and graciously comforted several mourners in Zion.

A happier meeting I have not witnessed for a long time, and it makes my heart glad still to think of it. All our exercises after this prayer meeting, were pleasant; the brethren seemed to have liberty to preach the good word of life, much religious feeling appeared to pervade the congregations. On Sabbath night we were kindly proffered the large dining hall of Judge Gates' new hotel, in which to hold prayer meeting, no private house being large enough to contain the congregations. This building was not quite finished and the family had not yet moved into it, so that its first use was for divine worship. May the peace of the Redeemer ever abide upon it. The place was honored by the presence of the King of kings, and will doubtless be remembered with pleasure by some, while life lasts. In the opening of the meeting, seven children, 5 of them Judge G.'s, were dedicated to God in holy baptism, and in the conclusion, five joined upon probation, the wife and eldest daughter of Mr. G. among the number.

It may not be amiss to state here, as some of your readers may wish to spend the winter in this part of Fla., that Judge G.'s spacious and finely finished house is intended for the accommodation of invalids, and is not only the best, but the only one of the kind upon this part of the Gulf coast. The Manatee on account of its broad and navigable stream, its large body of good land, its mineral water, (iron and mag.,) delightful sea-breezes, mild climate, and moral and intelligent community, is, in my opinion, by far, the most favourable situation which could have been selected upon the whole coast.

The meeting was continued through Monday and on Tuesday we returned to this place, where we commenced the exercises of our