When Pitt returned from Bath, he affected great moderation, though his haughty soul was boiling with resentment.  He did not complain of the manner in which he had been passed by, but said openly that, in his opinion, Fox was the fittest man to lead the House of Commons.  The rivals, reconciled by their common interest and their common enmities, concerted a plan of operations for the next session.  “Sir Thomas Robinson lead us!” said Pitt to Fox.  “The Duke might as well send his jack-boot to lead us.”

The elections of 1754 were favourable to the administration.  But the aspect of foreign affairs was threatening.  In India the English and the French had been employed, ever since the peace of Aix-la-Chapelle, in cutting each other’s throats.  They had lately taken to the same practice in America.  It might have been foreseen that stirring times were at hand, times which would call for abilities very different from those of Newcastle and Robinson.

In November the Parliament met; and before the end of that month the new Secretary of State had been so unmercifully baited by the Paymaster of the Forces and the Secretary-at-War that he was thoroughly sick of his situation.  Fox attacked him with great force and acrimony.  Pitt affected a kind of contemptuous tenderness for Sir Thomas, and directed his attacks principally against Newcastle.  On one occasion he asked in tones of thunder whether Parliament sat only to register the edicts of one too powerful subject?  The Duke was scared out of his wits.  He was afraid to dismiss the mutineers, he was afraid to promote them; but it was absolutely necessary to do something.  Fox, as the less proud and intractable of the refractory pair, was preferred.  A seat in the Cabinet was offered to him on condition that he would give efficient support to the ministry in Parliament.  In an evil hour for his fame and his fortunes he accepted the offer, and abandoned his connection with Pitt, who never forgave this desertion.

Sir Thomas, assisted by Fox, contrived to get through the business of the year without much trouble.  Pitt was waiting his time.  The negotiations pending between France and England took every day a more unfavourable aspect.  Towards the close of the session the King sent a message to inform the House of Commons that he had found it necessary to make preparations for war.  The House returned an address of thanks, and passed a vote of credit.  During the recess, the old animosity of both nations was inflamed by a series of disastrous events.  An English force was cut off in America and several French merchantmen were taken in the West Indian seas.  It was plain that an appeal to arms was at hand.

The first object of the King was to secure Hanover; and Newcastle was disposed to gratify his master.  Treaties were concluded, after the fashion of those times, with several petty German princes, who bound themselves to find soldiers if England would find money; and, as it was suspected that Frederic the Second had set his heart on the electoral dominions of his uncle, Russia was hired to keep Prussia in awe.