The Triumph of the Fox “O then pause on the footprints of heroic men Making a garden of the desert wide Where Parry conquer’d death and Franklin died.”—CHARLES DICKENS THE BRITISH GOVERNMENT HAD MADE IT OFFICIAL. Well before the Resolute’s triumphant homecoming, the Admiralty had issued this proclamation: By Admiralty Order, 18 January 1854: It is directed that if they are not heard of previous to 31 March, 1854, the Officers & Ships companies are to be removed from the Navy List & are to be considered as having died in the service. Wages are to he paid to their Relatives to that date: as of 1 April 1854, all books and papers are to be dispensed with. Tragic as it was, much of the public now had to agree. The facts were staggering: The British government had spent over £675,000 ($40 million in today’s money), the United States government had expended over $150,000, and Henry Grinnell had contributed $100,000. Lady Jane Franklin had added £35,000 of her own money to the cause.
