Remaining ultraleftists (Collot d'Herbois, Billaud-Varenne) and moderates…

Remaining ultraleftists (Collot d'Herbois, Billaud-Varenne) and moderates (Bourdon de l'Oise, Fréron), who had won the support of the nonaligned majority of the Convention (Marais), also opposes Robespierre's reign.

Fouché is reported to have worked furiously on Robespierre's overthrow.

As both a ruthless suppressor of Federalist rebellion and one of the proponents of Robespierre's overthrow, Fouché demonstrated the mercilessness that politics have taken on in France during the de-Christianization period.

Fouché is a dangerous critic of Robespierre, and his influence undoubtedly contributes to Robespierre's apparent nervous breakdown, which loosens his hold on Parisian politics and the Convention, and ultimately leads to his overthrow and execution.

Reports are coming into Paris about excesses committed by the envoys sent en-mission to the provinces, particularly Jean-Lambert Tallien in Bordeaux and Joseph Fouché in Lyons.

Robespierre has them recalled to Paris to account for their actions and then expels them from the Jacobins club.

However, they evade arrest.

Fouché spends the evenings moving house to house, warning members of the Convention that Robespierre is after them, while organizing a coup d'état.

Robespierre appears at the Convention on 26 July (8th Thermidor, year II, according to the Revolutionary calendar), and delivers a two-hour-long speech.

He defends himself against charges of dictatorship and tyranny, then proceeds to warn of a conspiracy against the Republic.

Robespierre implies that members of the Convention are a part of this conspiracy, though when pressed he refuses to provide any names.

The speech, however, alarms members, particularly given Fouché's warnings.

Those members who feel that Robespierre is alluding to them try to prevent the speech from being printed, and a bitter debate ensues until Barère forces an end to it.

Later that evening, Robespierre delivers the same speech again at the Jacobin Club, where it is very well received.