of Edinburgh^ Session 1865 - 66 . 479 
Scott, which ripened into a close and life-long friendship. Mr 
Skene had early shown a love of art, and a singular talent for 
drawing, to which Sir Walter alludes in the introduction to the 4th 
canto of Marmion, which is dedicated to Mr Skene. 
“ As tliOTi with pencil, I with pen, 
The features traced of hill and glen,” 
In 1797 Mr Skene was appointed cornet of the Edinburgh Light 
Horse, one of the earliest regiments of volunteers, which was organ- 
ised mainly by the efforts of Sir Walter Scott. After walking the 
Parliament House for a few years, Mr Skene revisited the continent 
in 1802, and travelled over the greater part of Europe during the 
next few years. In this journey he became acquainted with Mr 
Greenough, President of the Geological Society of London, and 
travelled for some time with that distinguished geologist. He 
thus acquired a taste for geology, and was afterwards elected a 
member of the Geological Society. 
In 1806 Mr Skene married Jane, daughter of Sir William Forbes 
of Pitsligo, Bart., and settled on a small property he possessed in 
Kincardineshire, where he spent the next eight years of his life. 
In 1816 Mr Skene returned to Edinburgh, for the education of 
his children, when he joined the different literary and scientific 
societies, which at that time were not in a very flourishing state. 
He became a member of the Koyal Society in 1817, and as Curator 
of their Library and Museum, an office which he held for many 
years, he did eminent service to that important department of the 
Society. He was also a member of the Antiquarian Society, and 
took an active part in its reform and restoration. 
During his residence in Edinburgh Mr Skene explored and 
sketched the various buildings in the Old Town that were remark- 
able for their antiquity or historical interest, and he has left a 
valuable collection of these sketches, which we trust may he given 
to the public. 
Mr Skene held for many years the office of Secretary to the 
Board of Trustees and Manufactures, and in this capacity he did 
much for the promotion of the fine arts in Scotland. 
In 1838, when the health of some of his family required a warmer 
climate, he went to Greece, and settled in the vicinity of Athens. 
