Re: typo
A quick browse to Newman's Idea of a University at Gutenberg.org, followed by a ctrl-f, turns up 'an abstract love', an 'intimate conviction', 'an "English Gentleman"'. One usually hears of Newman as a master of English prose.
As for beginning a sentence with 'An', it sounds to me as if you are thinking of the rule proposed against beginning a sentence with 'And'. As a general guideline it may be good, but better writers than those of the style books begin sentences with 'And', as for example in Lincoln's Second Inaugural Address: 'And the war came'.
Biting the hand that feeds IT
