General Grant's telegram was submitted to Mr.Lincoln, who, after pondering a few minutes, took up his pen and wrote with his own hand the following reply, which he submitted to the Secretary of State and Secretary of War.

It was then dated, addressed, and signed, by the Secretary of War, and telegraphed to General Grant: WASHINGTON, March 3, 1865-12 P.M.
Lieutenant-General GRANT: The President directs me to say to you that he wishes you to have no conference with General Lee, unless it be for the capitulation of General Lee's army, or on some minor or purely military matter.
He instructs me to say that you are not to decide, discuss, or confer upon any political questions.

Such questions the President holds in his own hands, and will submit them to no military conferences or conventions.
Meantime you are to press to the utmost your military advantages.
EDWIN M.STANTON, Secretary of War.
The orders of General Sherman to General Stoneman to withdraw from Salisbury and join him will probably open the way for Davis to escape to Mexico or Europe with his plunder, which is reported to be very large, including not only the plunder of the Richmond banks, but previous accumulations.
A dispatch received by this department from Richmond says: "It is stated here, by respectable parties, that the amount of specie taken south by Jeff.

Davis and his partisans is very large, including not only the plunder of the Richmond banks, but previous accumulations.

They hope, it is said, to make terms with General Sherman, or some other commander, by which they will be permitted, with their effects, including this gold plunder, to go to Mexico or Europe.