By Adam Gopnik
Enlarge H.M.S. Erebus and H.M.S. Terror, the ships used in John Franklin's expedition to find the Northwest Passage.
Credit Illustration by Illustrated London News via Getty
Two weeks ago, as Americans were preoccupied playing Groundhog War in Iraq, a significant discovery was announced in Canada. Yes, yes, of course this is an accepted ground for joking—“Worthwhile Canadian Initiative Yields Results” being the world’s most boring headline,..........................................