When Hughes returned to England, he left Mitchell in charge of the East Indies Station as commodore.

Here he obtained the surrender of a squadron of the navy of the Batavian Republic in the Vlieter Incident.

[3] For his service in this expedition he was appointed Knight Companion of the Order of the Bath, with his own ribbon (no stall being vacant at this time) by King George III in 1800.

[4] He was voted the thanks of Parliament, and the City of London presented him with a sword of honour at a value of 100 guineas.

His wife Mary died years later and was buried in the crypt of St. Paul's Church (Halifax, Nova Scotia).