'The Lost Arctic Voyagers' in Household Words

When, in 1854, John Rae brought back news that the Inuit had told him - that the crew of the Franklin Expedition had not only died, but had resorted to cannibalism - Lady Jane Franklin was horrified. In order to restore the reputation of her husband and his crew, she contacted Charles Dickens who wrote a two part article in his popular journal, Household Words, refuting the suggestion and insulting the Inuit. He wrote:

"It is impossible to form an estimate of the character of any race of savages, from their deferential behaviour to the white man while he is strong. . . We believe every savage to be in his heart covetous, treacherous, and cruel; and we have yet to learn what knowledge the white man—lost, houseless, shipless, apparently forgotten by his race; plainly famine-stricken, weak, frozen, helpless, and dying—has of the gentleness of the Esquimaux nature."

The articles destroyed Rae's reputation although he and the Inuit were subsequently proved right.