FAYETTEVILLE ACADEMY EXAMINATION IN 1800.
On the 18th ult. was closed the semi-annual examination of die Fayetteville Academy, under the tuition of Miss Taylor and Mr. Merroney, in presence of some of the Trustees, and a large number of Ladies and Gentlemen of Fayetteville and its vicinity; a number of Ladies and Gentlemen of Wilmington were also present.
The Examination took up most of three days. The whole was conducted with much propriety, and greatly to the satisfaction of those Ladies and Gentlemen who honored the examination with their presence, as well as those of the Trustees who were present.
In justice to the Young Ladies and their Teachers, the Trustees with pleasure, remark, that, notwithstanding their attention and progress in needle-work, which increases the variety of their exercises and the objects of their attention, they generally excelled the Young Gentlemen, particularly in reading, spelling and English Grammar.
On the evenings of the first and third days of the examination some theatrical performances were exhibited at the Theatre, by some of the Young Gentlemen of the Academy, assisted by some Gentlemen of the town, for the benefit of the Academy, the proceeds of which were upwards of one hundred dollars.
And on the evening of the 24th ult. was a performance at the Theatre by Mr. and Mrs. Hardinge, assisted by some Gentlemen of the town, for the benevolent and humane purpose of extending to poor children, and such as are deserted by their parents, the benefits of Education. The proceeds of the house were deposited by Mr. Hardinge in the hands of the Trustees of the Academy for the above purpose.

—Raleigh Register, August 19, 1800.
(Source: North Carolina Schools and Academies, 1790-1840, By Charles L. Coon 1914)