another merge from 1.8

[Kevin Ryde]

I did another dreaded merge from the 1.8 onto the head.  Insert the
usual whinge, but the specifics this time are:

* If it's going to be utf-8 for the changelogs then please make that
  change in 1.8 too or merges are going to go haywire.

* Are the hpux ia64 bits meant to be in 1.8?  If it's a portability
  matter then it ought to be applicable.

* Is the readline "new-input-prompt" bit meant to be in 1.8?

* Notes about being subscribed to bug-guile would go in 1.8, if
  it's true now.  (Though I believe gnu policy is that anyone can send
  a report, without too many hoops to jump through.)