While Montreal was thus assailed by land, Massa chusetts and the other New England colonies were invited to attack Quebec by sea, a task formidable in difficulty and in cost, and one that imposed on them an inordinate share in the burden of the war. Massachusetts hesitated. She had no money, and she was already engaged in a less remote and less critical enterprise. During the winter her commerce had snfiered from French cruisers, which found con venient harborage at Port Royal, whence also the hostile Indians were believed to draw supplies.