OFFTOPIC Request

[Michael Joseph]

Not a Pynchon matter but a request for literary information someone here
might be able to provide. Sorry to exploit the list in this way, and I
apologize if this is unseemly, but the literacy of the subscribers here is
so impressive, I thought perhaps someone might have the information I
need.

In the OED online, under the 2d. definition for 'fun,' there is a citation
from Samuel Carter Hall's The Book of Gems: Poets and Artists of Great
Britain.

1845 S. C. HALL Bk. Gems 90 His wit and humour delightful, when
it does not degenerate into fun.

Can anyone having access to this text tell me to whom the quotation
refers? (Incidently, there is an earlier ed., and it would be wonderful to
know whether the quotation appears there as well.)

Please respond offline to me at mjospeh at rci.rutgers.edu.

Thanks!

Michael