First Sentence

"In the Year 1702, the Count de Vinevil, a Native of France, born of one of the noblest Families in Picardy, where he had long lived possessed of a plentiful Estate, being a Widower, and having no child but the beautiful Ardelisa, his only Daughter, finding his Estate impoverished by continued Taxations, and himself neglected by his Sovereign, and no ways advanced, whilst others less worthy were put into Places of Trust and Power; resolved to dispose of his Estate, purchase and freight a Ship, sail for Turkey, and there settle at Constantinople, to trade; being induced so to do, from the perfect Knowledge he had of those Parts, having been in his Youth for above ten Years with an Uncle of his, who was Consul there for the French Factory, and carried him along with him to shew him the World."