SPECTATOR WRITES OF NEW BERN ACADEMY, 1794.
On Thursday the 3d instant, the pupils of the Newbern Academy were publicly examined, in the presence of the board of Trustees, and a brilliant assemblage of ladies and gentlemen; their improvement in the various branches of useful science, particularly the Greek and Latin languages, the Mathematics and Logic, since the last public exhibition, demanded and procured their universal approbation. In the evening a very crowded and respectable audience were highly entertained by a theatrical exhibition—the salutatory address in commemoration of American Independence was delivered by Mr. Guion, with the utmost propriety of voice and gesture; several orations were pronounced by Messrs. Baron, Stephens and Beesley with several excellence: to these succeeded several humorous dialogues, and a representation of the Farce entitled, "Mock Doctor or Dumb Lady cured" in which every part was well supported by the young gentlemen above mentioned and Messrs. Pasteur and Forbes. A number of extracts from various comedies were also performed by Mr. Cobb, and those who had previously spoken, and a petite piece (supposed to be the production of Mr. Irving, the principal of the Academy) in which the pretender to science was highly characterized and ridiculed, afforded great entertainment to the spectators. The* youthful performance was ended by a valedictory oration on the rising glory of America, delivered with singular elegance by Mr. Gaston and the business of the evening concluded with an elegant extemporaneous address by Mr. Irving, in which he depicted in lively colours the numerous advantages of science. To bestow further eulogy on any particular characters, would be an act of injustice to the students in general, it is sufficient to say, that from the rapid progress which the pupils have made in literature, since their last public exhibition, they received a justly deserved applause, and there is no doubt, that from their great advancement, during the short period they have been under his tuition, that the principal of the Newborn Academy, will receive the profits and honours due to his indefatigable industry and other merits.
A Spectator.
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New Bern (N. C.) Gazette, July 12, 1794.
(Source: North Carolina Schools and Academies, 1790-1840, By Charles L. Coon 1914) 
