Hopscotch on Ulysses: 53 (U282.1877)

An article of headgear since ascertained to belong to the much respected clerk of the crown and peace

53rd cast. page 282, line 1877.

An article of headgear since ascertained to belong to the much respected clerk of the crown and peace Mr George Fottrell and a silk umbrella with gold handle with the engraved initials, crest, coat of arms and house number of the erudite and worshipful chairman of quarter sessions sir Frederick Falkiner, recorder of Dublin, have been discovered by search parties in remote parts of the island respectively, the former on the third basaltic ridge of the giant’s causeway, the latter embedded to the extent of one foot three inches in the sandy beach of Holeopen bay near the old head of Kinsale.

Episode 12 proceeds with various parodic chapters that are suddenly interrupted by the story told by the narrator. This is one of the parody passages, which is the most closing part of the episode.

At Barney Kiernan's pub. The protagonist, Mr Bloom, is involved in an argument with a nationalist 'the citizen'. The enraged 'the citizen' throws a biscuit tin at Mr Bloom as he walks away.

Here, the dropping of the biscuit tin is described in a parody of a report of a major earthquake caused by a falling meteorite or something.

The epicentre appears to be the courthouse. This is probably because the Green Street Courthouse was located in the immediate neighborhood of Birnie Kiernan.

What is the position of George Fottrell (1849-1919), clerk of the crown and peace? A search provides a description (national archives) but the British justice system (and that of 1904) is too difficult to understand for me. Apparently, it is an administrative officer who supports criminal court proceedings.

Mr Fottrell also appears in the fantasy scene of Mr Bloom's trial in Episode 15.（U376.895)

Mr Frederick Faulkiner (1831 - 1908) was a judge, lawyer and writer.

Mr Bloom witnesses Mr Falkiner entering the Freemason's Hall today. (U149.1151) Mr Bloom fantasises viciously about Falkiner. Mr Falkiner was known for his anti-Semitism, and Mr Bloom, whose father is Jewish, is probably antagonistic towards him.

Mr Faulkiner also comes up for discussion a little earlier in Episode 12. (U264.1096-1121) Furthermore, he appears in the fantasy scene of Mr Bloom's trial in chapter 15 (he has an umbrella!) and He sentences Mr Bloom to death. (U384.1162-)

Quarter Sessions were judicial and local administrative bodies for the handling of regular criminal cases. It was a criminal court that dealt with small and medium-sized local offences and was tried by justices of the peace, together with a grand jury.

The Recorder of Dublin was the lead justices of the peace and tried a variety of civil and criminal cases.

The coat of arms inscribed on the handle of Mr Faulkner's umbrella, strictly speaking refers only to the shield part of such a coat of arms. Crest is one of the components of a coat of arms placed on a helmet.

The possessions of both leaders of the law were found at the northern and southern ends of Ireland.

The Giant's Causeway is a strange sight in Northern Ireland, a series of 40,000 hexagonal stone pillars created by volcanic activity.