526    LITERARY    INSTITUTIONS.

This has been changed, and both sexes are now in one department.

Robinson Female Seminary—The Robinson Female Seminary, in
Exetenf was founded by the wise liberality of William Robinson, Esq.,
a native and early resident of that town, who passed his latter years in
the State of Georgia. By his last will, after providing amply for his
widow and near relatives, and endowing a school in the town where
he resided, he bequeathed the residue of his large estate to the town of
his nativity, to establish a female seminary, in which he directed that
“ the course of instruction should be such as would tend to make fe-
male scholars equal to all the practical duties of life;—such a course
of education as will enable them to compete, and successfully, too, with
their brothers throughout the world, when they take their part in the
actual duties of life.” He further provided, that in admitting applicants
to the seminary, “ all other things being equal, the preference should
always be given to the poor and the orphan.”

The town of Exeter accepted the bequest, and adopted a code of regu-
lations for the management of the contemplated institution, which was
sanctioned by a legislative enactment. The sum of more than a quar-
ter of a million of dollars, principal and income, was realized from the
bequest, and a female seminary was at once organized on a scale com-
mensurate with the design of the founder and the magnitude of his gift.
In 1867, the institution was opened for the reception of pupils, and in
1869 it was fully organized and'established in the new and elegant build-
ing erected for it.

The seminary receives, free of charge, female pupils belonging to the
town of Exeter, who must be at least nine years of age and qualified for
admission to the Grammar schools; from all other pupils a moderate
sum for tuition is required, though this is omitted in all suitable cases,
upon proper application. The entire course of study is comprised in
three departments—the Preparatory, Academic, and Collegiate—which
are designed to embrace a thorough course of instruction, up to the most
advanced studies.

The number of students has averaged from 225 to 275, of whom much
the greater number belong in Exeter. The immediate government of
the Robinson Female Seminary is vested in Eben S. Stearns, M, A.,
Principal, with ten assistants who are all ladies.

The Board of Trustees are as follows—Charles H. Bell, President; Ab-
ner Merrill, Joshua Gitchell, Noah Hooper, William P. Moulton, John
E. Gardner, Samuel W. Leavitt.

Rochester High School, Rochester.

Roelinsford High School, Rollinsford. Milton C. Hyde, Princi-
pal.

Simonds Free High School, See Warner.

Somersworth High School, Somersworth. W. II. Farrer, Princi-
pal.

Stevens High School, Claremont. This popular Institution was
founded through the liberal endowments of Paran Stevens, Esq., of New-
York, a former resident of this town. These endowments amounted to