25 JULY 1874, Page 14

['To THE ED/TOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:') Szn.,—The artist in

the popular print of the " Gladiators " hair. borrowed the dress, arms, and action of the combatants from one of the bas-reliefs discovered on a tomb at Pompeii, viz.,, from that one of a combat between a Veles and a Samnite. The Veles, who is defeated, is holding his thumb upwards, in appeal to the multitude. Following up the frieze on the tomb, two combats are portrayed, in both of which the vanquished com- batant holds his thumbs upwards, as an appeal for mercy.—I am, Sir, &c.,