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Benavides criticized the Spanish friars who left FL

Source: The Governorship of Spanish Florida #122

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This strategy [6/25/1720] was not successful. In the end only two of the 19 Spaniards stayed to face the hardships of life in Florida. By 1727, 17 Spanish friars had returned to Cuba, much to the distress of Governor Benavides, who accused the Spaniards of feigning illness in order to get passage back to Cuba. Then once safely in Havana, they had not returned to Florida. Outraged by the conduct of the 17 friars, the governor lashed out against them. He contrasted their indifference, complacency, and lack of dedication with the devotion, energy, and piety of the Creoles. The Spaniards, stated the governor, whose sympathies might naturally have lain with the peninsulars, were wholly unfit for service in Florida. [Note 98: gov to king 9/10/1727]

In Madrid the new Franciscan Commissary General, Domingo Losada, came to the defense of the Spanish Franciscans. He pointed out to the king that Florida had never lacked dedicated, selfless missionaries. Those who had departed from Havana had served the required 10-year term and were justified in leaving. Moreover, there were enough missionaries in Florida to perform the necessary religious tasks. Four friars labored in Indian towns near Saint Augustine, nine lived in the convent, and two served in Pensacola and Apalache. [Note 99: comisario to king 4/18/1730]

(Tepaske GSF)