Particular.—From Angus’s “Handbook of the English Tongue,” we quote the following with reference to your query:—“In old writers, and occasionally in modern print, ‘an’ is sometimes erroneously placed before semi-vowels or vocal ‘h,’ as ‘an usurpation,’ ‘an historical account.’” Thus, you see that “a historical account” was right. You should get the book in question; it is published at 56, Paternoster-row, E.C.
FOOTNOTES:
12-11-1.
Caledonian Railway.—Traffic for week ending 31st ultimo, £2,250 decrease.
[2] There passes through the Clearing House annually the incomprehensible sum of £6,000,000,000 a year in the shape of cheques.
[Transcriber’s note—the following changes have been made to this text.
Page 394: duplicate word “sight” removed—“sight, and we”.