In the face of the many hindrances to the settlement and effective use of Florida—the crown’s protective attitude toward natives, the obstacles to trade, the shortage of currency, the problems of food distribution, the slow Spanish increase in population and the rapid native decrease, and the exhausting wars—it was a remarkable achievement for the Spanish to have remained there at all. The way they did so, and the share of the royal officials of the treasury in the story, is a demonstration of human ingenuity and idealism, tenacity, and sheer greed. (Bushnell KC)